U18 World League

Arena Lucas Martins
Spectators: 8006 (Terracing: 6006, Seating: 1841, VIP seats: 159) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Minko Búrnev started the match with the kick off. Luiz Guilherme Nascimento hit a great freekick 3 minutes into the match. Genko Dankin took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Luiz Guilherme Nascimento, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. 10 minutes into the game, Konstantin Shumarov was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. SPARROWS's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Los Hermanos CIMZ the free kick. After 10 played minutes SPARROWS got a freekick which was hit by Konstantin Shumarov. Pedro Paulo Costa recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 11th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. 13 minutes into the match, SPARROWS's goal looked a bit too open when Rafa Veloso came free, but Genko Dankin reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Los Hermanos CIMZ's Oscar Saraiva played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Valentin Gebrev in the 15th minute of play. Rafa Veloso sent away a hard shot on goal in the 19th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Valério Rosado received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 22nd minute. Genko Dankin tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Luiz Guilherme Nascimento hit a great freekick 31 minutes into the match. Los Hermanos CIMZ's Oscar Saraiva played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Valentin Gebrev in the 32nd minute of play. Bruno Vinhas blasted a shot towards the goal in the 37th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Genko Dankin having to make a save. Genko Dankin made an important save on a dangerous shot by Rafa Veloso in the 41st minute. The supporters of Los Hermanos CIMZ booed when SPARROWS was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 41 match minutes in a wonderful position. Arhangel Vladkov didn't get a good kick on the ball. The long shot by Zézinho Albuquerque in the 43rd minute really tested Genko Dankin's skills. The ball was on its way into the goal to the left of him when he managed to stretch himself and save the shot and avoid a goal. A collision led to SPARROWS getting a freekick after 47 minutes play. Benislav Vodenov hit a great ball. 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.

The wind increased when Pedro Paulo Costa made the kick off in the second half. Svetlozar Florov kicked well hit freekick during the 53rd minute of the match. In the 54th minute of the match Lucas Militão sent off a long shot with destination to the right of the goalkeeper, but Genko Dankin skillfully saved the ball. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Grozdan Grozev during the 55th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. Grozdan Grozev hit a great freekick 55 minutes into the match. Genko Dankin took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Pedro Paulo Costa, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. An unexpectedly hard shot by Pedro Paulo Costa in the 60th minute of play forced SPARROWS's goalkeeper Genko Dankin to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. An unexpectedly hard shot by Luiz Guilherme Nascimento in the 62nd minute of play forced SPARROWS's goalkeeper Genko Dankin to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 65th minute, Valério Rosado made a precise shot to the right of Genko Dankin. SPARROWS's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 1-0. In the 69th minute the ball was on its way in behind SPARROWS's goalkeeper Genko Dankin, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. Genko Dankin took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Pedro Paulo Costa, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Oscar Saraiva took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Minko Búrnev, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 79th match minute, SPARROWS was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Svetlozar Florov to maneuver through the defense. Genko Dankin showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Luiz Guilherme Nascimento in the 83rd minute of the match. In the 87th minute, Rafa Veloso ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Genko Dankin was frozen by the shot and now it was 2-0. Rafa Veloso hit a great freekick 92 minutes into the match. SPARROWS's players left the field with heads hung low after losing a match that had been finely balanced throughout.