U18 World League

Arena Par
Spectators: 7743 (Terracing: 5809, Seating: 1780, VIP seats: 154) Sliema Dragons FC's Samuel Galdes 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 Samuel Galdes in the 4th minute of play forced Parfrente FC's goalkeeper Haroldo Chaves to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. After 5 played minutes, Sliema Dragons FC's Arthur Facciol shot from a long distance, and at first it looked like the ball was going into the goal, but the goalkeeper Haroldo Chaves 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 Sliema Dragons FC reached it. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Fabian Borg in the 8th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Haroldo Chaves prevented the ball from getting in the gole. The supporters of Parfrente FC booed when Sliema Dragons FC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 9 match minutes in a wonderful position. Leon Desira didn't get a good kick on the ball. 9 minutes into the match, Parfrente FC's Ramón Branco sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that John Balzan narrowly saved just below the crossbar. The crowd rose to their feet as Parfrente FC's Murilo Alcântara slotted home a wonderful shot that went in to the left of John Balzan. That made the score 1-0 after 11 minutes of play. Parfrente FC's Haroldo Chaves played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Samuel Galdes in the 14th minute of play. Haroldo Chaves showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Samuel Galdes in the 17th minute of the match. After 18 minutes, Samuel Galdes mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Sliema Dragons FC and the Parfrente FC players grew even worse after the yellow card. Haroldo Chaves stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Fabian Borg's shot from short distance in the 20th minute. An unexpectedly hard shot by Arthur Facciol in the 25th minute of play forced Parfrente FC's goalkeeper Haroldo Chaves to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. The supporters of Sliema Dragons FC booed when Parfrente FC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 29 match minutes in a wonderful position. Joel Sarmento didn't get a good kick on the ball. When Fabian Borg fell near the penalty area in the 31st minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Sliema Dragons FC's protests and gave Fabian Borg a yellow card for diving instead. After 31 played minutes Sliema Dragons FC got a freekick which was hit by Fabian Borg. John Balzan made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Benjamin de Alcântara in the 33rd minute of play. 34 minutes had been played when some careless play by Sliema Dragons FC's defense caused the ball to cross the line for a corner. Ramón Branco was slow to take the kick. During this time Parfrente FC's players had a chance to rest. 37 minutes into the match, Patrick Buttigieg had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Haroldo Chaves. Parfrente FC's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Patrick Buttigieg was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 1-1. In the 40th minute Benjamin de Alcântara shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but John Balzan saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. With an all-out effort, Parfrente FC's John Balzan threw himself towards the right post 42 minutes into the match and grabbed hold of the ball from Diamantino Cosme, which otherwise would have been placed in the net. 45 minutes into the match, Sliema Dragons FC's Fabian Borg broke free and took a long shot that unfortunately flew wide. A fine initiative that could have resulted in a goal. A collision led to Sliema Dragons FC getting a freekick after 46 minutes play. Neil Deguara 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.

John Balzan showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Diamantino Cosme, who was totally free with the ball in the 52nd minute. A collision led to Parfrente FC getting a freekick after 52 minutes play. Diamantino Cosme hit a great ball. Sean Miggiani took a chance and fired a shot far from the goal in the 53rd minute, but it turned out to be a dangerous situation for Haroldo Chaves. Parfrente FC's goalkeeper really had to stretch himself to stop the ball from crossing the goal line. Sliema Dragons FC's Arthur Facciol suffered a concussion in the 54th minute, after a hard challenge, and had to leave the field. When Diamantino Cosme fell near the penalty area in the 54th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Parfrente FC's protests and gave Diamantino Cosme a yellow card for diving instead. Diamantino Cosme hit a great freekick 55 minutes into the match. The long shot by Fabian Borg in the 56th minute really tested Haroldo Chaves'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. Benjamin de Alcântara scored 2-1 in the 59th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of John Balzan, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. Haroldo Chaves made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Fabian Borg in the 67th minute of play. Haroldo Chaves made a fantastic save in the 72nd minute, when Frederick Gatt sent off a good shot on target. After 73 played minutes Parfrente FC got a freekick which was hit by Ramón Branco. The audience thought a goal was coming when Frederick Gatt got free with Haroldo Chaves in the 77th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. The audience thought a goal was coming when Samuel Galdes got free with Haroldo Chaves in the 79th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Samuel Galdes blasted a shot towards the goal in the 80th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Haroldo Chaves having to make a save. Haroldo Chaves didn't succeed to prevent the ball from going into goal when Sliema Dragons FC's Samuel Galdes shot an unexpected shot in the crossbar's under edge and made 2-2 in the ordered_time% minute. Haroldo Chaves showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Samuel Galdes in the 83rd minute of the match. In the 87th minute Murilo Alcântara shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but John Balzan saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 88th minute Fabian Borg shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Haroldo Chaves saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. A collision led to Parfrente FC getting a freekick after 89 minutes play. Murilo Alcântara hit a great ball. An unexpectedly hard shot by Fabian Borg in the 95th minute of play forced Parfrente FC's goalkeeper Haroldo Chaves to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. 96 minutes into the game, Neil Deguara was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Sliema Dragons FC's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Parfrente FC the free kick. The supporters of Parfrente FC booed when Sliema Dragons FC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 97 match minutes in a wonderful position. Neil Deguara didn't get a good kick on the ball.