U18 World League

Ciruelandia
Spectators: 8127 (Terracing: 6097, Seating: 1869, VIP seats: 161) Ciruel Academy's Tio Cabezon started the match with a crisp pass. The crowd had been anticipating this game for weeks and the excitement in the stadium was easily visible. An unexpectedly hard shot by Mané Garrincha in the 5th minute of play forced Ciruel Academy's goalkeeper Pedro Navarro to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 8th minute, Frank Sten hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. The supporters of Ciruel Academy booed when Villaverde Celeste Clube was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 15 match minutes in a wonderful position. Alberto Galvão didn't get a good kick on the ball. If Estebano Vuelta had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 23rd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. José Puyol fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 30th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Alfredo Linares having to interfere. After 37 minutes Villaverde Celeste Clube's defender was forced to head the ball over the line for a corner. It was José Puyol who took care of the corner kick. In the 39th minute, Ciruel Academy's Estebano Vuelta ran free of his marker and smoothly shot the ball into the goal behind Alfredo Linares. Alfredo Linares yelled at his defense, as they had left him out to dry. 1-0. 43 minutes into the match, Frank Sten had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Pedro Navarro. Ciruel Academy's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Frank Sten was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 1-1. In the 47th match minute, Villaverde Celeste Clube was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Cesinha Dias to maneuver through the defense. Almarín Peña sent away a hard shot on goal in the 48th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After the first half the score was level. The break gave the players a chance to catch their breath, whilst the managers went over the tactics with them again.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Frank Sten made a kick off. José Puyol fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 52nd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Alfredo Linares having to interfere. Alfredo Linares made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Tio Cabezon in the 57th minute of play. Estebano Vuelta might have been able to make a better finish in the 67th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Alfredo Linares. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Estebano Vuelta ran back to his position shaking his head. Ciruel Academy's Perico Rojas was substituted for Cebrián Fonticoba. Ciruel Academy made a substitution. Bartolomé Sabina replaced Tio Cabezon. Pedro Navarro was out of position in the 78 minute of play, and Frank Sten capitalized on the mistake with a soft shot into the goal. Frank Sten really showed his touch with that goal: 1-2. In the 80th minute, Thomas Morera hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. The supporters of Ciruel Academy booed when Villaverde Celeste Clube was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 88 match minutes in a wonderful position. Alberto Galvão didn't get a good kick on the ball. Bartolomé Sabina sent away a hard shot on goal in the 90th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After some fancy dribbling in the 92nd minute, Bartolomé Sabina managed to get in a good position for a shot. Ciruel Academy's supporters rose to their feet, but Bartolomé Sabina was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Alfredo Linares breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. In the 97th match minute, Villaverde Celeste Clube was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Denílson de Souza to maneuver through the defense. Villaverde Celeste Clube's supporters were very happy and cheered loudly because their team had won after a very close match.