U18 World League

War Memorial Stadium
Spectators: 7724 (Terracing: 5794, Seating: 1776, VIP seats: 154) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Leo Pihlwall took the kick off in the first half of the match. Eric Boberg was really disappointed when he shot the ball just outside the right post instead of scoring a goal in the 3rd minute. Wyoming Cowboys's manager could be seen on the sidelines shaking his head and muttering to himself as his team had just wasted another chance. Mattias Morreels made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Leo Pihlwall in the 3rd minute of play. In the 4th minute Leo Pihlwall shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Mattias Morreels saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. 4 minutes into the game, Carel Tilemans was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Purple Talents's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Wyoming Cowboys the free kick. The supporters of Wyoming Cowboys booed when Purple Talents was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 4 match minutes in a wonderful position. Carel Tilemans didn't get a good kick on the ball. Eric Boberg recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 7th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. 9 minutes into the match, Purple Talents's goalkeeper Mattias Morreels had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Leo Pihlwall. In the 13th minute, Wyoming Cowboys's Thomas Åhlberg dribbled the ball into the box and hit a shot with the outside of his foot, sending the keeper the wrong way. 1-0. Mattias Morreels stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Thomas Åhlberg's shot from short distance in the 18th minute. An unexpectedly hard shot by Bart De Koq in the 21st minute of play forced Wyoming Cowboys's goalkeeper Gustaf Olofsson to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Mattias Morreels showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Eric Boberg, who was totally free with the ball in the 22nd minute. Mattias Morreels didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Leo Pihlwall went, in the 22nd minute, to the upper right corner, 2-0 was the resulting score. After having played for 26 minutes, Leo Pihlwall managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Wyoming Cowboys's supporters crossed their fingers, but Leo Pihlwall was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. In the 28th minute Bart De Koq shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Gustaf Olofsson saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Purple Talents's Mattias Morreels proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 34th minute of the match, managed to save Purple Talents from getting a goal against them. After 35 minutes, Örjan Bokelund mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Wyoming Cowboys and the Purple Talents players grew even worse after the yellow card. 36 minutes into the match, Purple Talents's Brecht De Wortelaer sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Gustaf Olofsson narrowly saved just below the crossbar. 42 minutes into the game, Eddy Claes cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 2-1. Gustaf Olofsson was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. In the 47th match minute, Purple Talents was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Steffen Uijterhove to maneuver through the defense. All the noise was coming from the home fans when the whistle went for half-time. The home team had fought hardest to put themselves in a deserved lead.

The wind increased when Eddy Claes made the kick off in the second half. Purple Talents's Bart De Koq got a good chance for a goal in the 54th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Wyoming Cowboys's Gustaf Olofsson played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Bart De Koq in the 58th minute of play. 59 minutes into the match, Wyoming Cowboys's goal looked a bit too open when Eddy Claes came free, but Gustaf Olofsson reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Eric Boberg sent away a hard shot on goal in the 63rd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After 72nd play minutes Leo Pihlwall shot 4-1, a short shot which went by Mattias Morreels and just under the crossbar into goal. When Steffen Uijterhove fell near the penalty area in the 76th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Purple Talents's protests and gave Steffen Uijterhove a yellow card for diving instead. Steffen Uijterhove hit a great freekick 76 minutes into the match. After a defensive mix-up in Purple Talents's zone, Anton Finnman stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Mattias Morreels came out of the goal and Anton Finnman tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. In the 80th match minute, Wyoming Cowboys was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Thomas Åhlberg to maneuver through the defense. In the 82nd minute, Eddy Claes ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Gustaf Olofsson was frozen by the shot and now it was 4-2. An unexpectedly hard shot by Cederique De Kepper in the 85th minute of play forced Wyoming Cowboys's goalkeeper Gustaf Olofsson to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Cederique De Kepper charged in rather forcefully in the 87th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Cederique De Kepper the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. In the 87th match minute, Purple Talents was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Cederique De Kepper to maneuver through the defense. Wyoming Cowboys's Gustaf Olofsson played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Charl Mesmaekers in the 92nd minute of play. Mattias Morreels took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Leo Pihlwall, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. The crowd rose to their feet and cheered when the referee blew the final whistle. Wyoming Cowboys had won after a very even match.