U18 World League

Queen Arena
Spectators: 7754 (Terracing: 5817, Seating: 1783, VIP seats: 154) Andrés Chavez started the match with the kick off in front of an excited audience. Emerald's Martin Găvănescu played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Andrés Chavez in the 3rd minute of play. The supporters of Emerald booed when Buenaventura FC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 4 match minutes in a wonderful position. Roger Martinez didn't get a good kick on the ball. In the 5th minute, Juan Herrera hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Julio Lozano showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Costin Frânculescu in the 5th minute of the match. Cristian Diculescu struck a weak shot in the 8th minute. Julio Lozano didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Emerald. After 9 played minutes Buenaventura FC got a freekick which was hit by Leonidas Escalona. Emerald's Martin Găvănescu played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Andrés Chavez in the 11th minute of play. After 15 played minutes, Buenaventura FC's Juan Herrera shot from a long distance, and at first it looked like the ball was going into the goal, but the goalkeeper Martin Găvănescu came through and got his fingers on the ball before it flew over the goal line. He then quickly gripped the ball tighter before the forwards in Buenaventura FC reached it. The Buenaventura FC fans' excitement grew in the 19th match minute when Buenaventura FC's Andrés Chavez looked to have a clear shot with the ball near the goal. The shot wasn't hard, but the ball still rolled over the goal line to make it 0-1 before the goalkeeper had a chance to intervene. Rolando Peralta's late challenge caught a Emerald's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Rolando Peralta helped the player get up and apologised. After 25 played minutes Buenaventura FC got a freekick which was hit by Rolando Peralta. Roger Martinez received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 29th minute. Martin Găvănescu tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. In the 38th minute Nistor Stanciu shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Julio Lozano saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. With a little luck, Buenaventura FC's Julio Lozano got control of the ball when Cristian Diculescu tried to sneak it across the goal line. After a rather tough play, Buenaventura FC's Leonidas Moscoso got a free kick in the 46th minute. Cristian Diculescu took the ball and in the 47 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Julio Lozano. Julio Lozano dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 1-1. The first half was very even, with the score at 1-1 when the whistle went for half-time. The players welcomed the break and quickly retired to the dressing rooms.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Cristian Diculescu to make the kick off. After a rather tough play, Buenaventura FC's Rolando Peralta got a free kick in the 57th minute. When Andrés Chavez fell near the penalty area in the 59th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Buenaventura FC's protests and gave Andrés Chavez a yellow card for diving instead. Andrés Chavez kicked well hit freekick during the 60th minute of the match. An unexpectedly hard shot by Nistor Stanciu in the 63rd minute of play forced Buenaventura FC's goalkeeper Julio Lozano to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. If Nistor Stanciu had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 69th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Julio Lozano took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Cristian Diculescu, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. An unexpectedly hard shot by Roger Martinez in the 72nd minute of play forced Emerald's goalkeeper Martin Găvănescu to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Martin Găvănescu made a fantastic save in the 74th minute, when Roger Martinez sent off a good shot on target. Tudor Frâncu hit a great freekick 74 minutes into the match. Buenaventura FC's Juan Herrera couldn't find anyone to pass the ball to, so he shot a long shot towards the goal in the 75th minute. The shot went wide which resulted in a goal kick for Emerald. Julio Lozano made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Costin Frânculescu in the 77th minute of play. Leonidas Escalona hit a great freekick 78 minutes into the match. Julio Lozano showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Nistor Stanciu in the 80th minute of the match. Martin Găvănescu showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Roger Martinez in the 82nd minute of the match. Leonidas Escalona's late challenge caught a Emerald's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Leonidas Escalona helped the player get up and apologised. After 84 played minutes Buenaventura FC got a freekick which was hit by Leonidas Escalona. Martin Găvănescu made a fantastic save in the 87th minute, when Roger Martinez sent off a good shot on target. Martin Găvănescu showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Andrés Chavez in the 88th minute of the match. Martin Găvănescu took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Andrés Chavez, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Jeers came from both ends of the stadium when the final whistle went. Neither team had looked impressive and the draw seeemd a fair result.