U18 World League

Dionisio Fernanco
Spectators: 8063 (Terracing: 6049, Seating: 1854, VIP seats: 160) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Horacio Hernandez got the match started through his kick off. The supporters of Sportivo Ben Hur booed when Spartak de Txurdi was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 6 match minutes in a wonderful position. Felix Darroja didn't get a good kick on the ball. Domingos Turi kicked well hit freekick during the 8th minute of the match. Horacio Hernandez took the ball and in the 12 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Ovidio Maureo. Ovidio Maureo dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 0-1. Ovidio Maureo didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Horacio Hernandez went, in the 15th minute, to the upper right corner, 0-2 was the resulting score. In the 17th minute, Domingos Turi hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Eulalio Pedriza, 18 minutes into the match, dribbled the ball up the side of the field and decided to take a long shot at the goal. Unfortunately, the ball was poorly hit and landed closer to the corner than to the goal. Spartak de Txurdi's Felix Darroja got a good chance for a goal in the 26th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Spartak de Txurdi's Xesus Jurado proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 29th minute of the match, managed to save Spartak de Txurdi from getting a goal against them. Ovidio Maureo took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Horacio Hernandez, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 33rd match minute, Sportivo Ben Hur was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Ovidio Piarres to maneuver through the defense. Ovidio Piarres hit a great freekick 36 minutes into the match. After a rather tough play, Spartak de Txurdi's Eusebio Gene got a free kick in the 37th minute. After a defensive mix-up in Sportivo Ben Hur's zone, Tello Olmos stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Ovidio Maureo came out of the goal and Tello Olmos tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Horacio Hernandez received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 45th minute. Ovidio Maureo tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. The Sportivo Ben Hur players were disheartened as they walked off the pitch after the first half. Spartak de Txurdi were winning 0-2.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Marciano Maxin stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. After 55 played minutes Sportivo Ben Hur got a freekick which was hit by Ovidio Piarres. After a defensive mix-up in Sportivo Ben Hur's zone, Eulalio Pedriza stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Ovidio Maureo came out of the goal and Eulalio Pedriza tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. 59 minutes into the game, one of Spartak de Txurdi:s players got tackled near the goal, and the referee blew for a penalty. Spartak de Txurdi:s Xesus Jurado showed great skill when he stopped Marciano Maxin:s penalty. 63 minutes into the game, Spartak de Txurdi's Eusebio Gene nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Ovidio Maureo made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 0-3. Eulalio Pedriza struck a weak shot in the 72nd minute. Ovidio Maureo didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Spartak de Txurdi. Ovidio Maureo was a little too slow when Tello Olmos got a fine hit on the ball which went right into the goal in the 75th minute. The score was now 0-4. After some careless play in the Spartak de Txurdi defense, Marciano Maxin kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Xesus Jurado. The Spartak de Txurdi fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Xesus Jurado should have stopped the shot. Xesus Jurado took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Desiderio Tancredo, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 98th match minute, Sportivo Ben Hur was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Jimeno Lizbeth to maneuver through the defense. Spartak de Txurdi's players went to the stands to thank the travelling support. The fan's backing had helped spurr the team on to a fine performance that won them the match.