U18 World League

Lions Den
Spectators: 7711 (Terracing: 5785, Seating: 1773, VIP seats: 153) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Vic Burrows started the match with the kick off. 9 minutes into the match, FC UNIREA Alba Iulia's goal looked a bit too open when Nathan Leyburn came free, but Iulian Bucurescu reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After 10 minutes FC UNIREA Alba Iulia's defender was forced to head the ball over the line for a corner. It was Vic Burrows who took care of the corner kick. Florin Astafiei tried in the 10th minute to hit away a contribution but miss-kicked the ball which ended up in his own goal and left an unhappy Iulian Bucurescu a with quite unnecessary self made goal. Result 1-0. Iulian Bucurescu made an important save on a dangerous shot by Vic Burrows in the 20th minute. An unexpectedly hard shot by Gigi Câmpeanu in the 25th minute of play forced Leicester Lions's goalkeeper Gerry Neville to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Vic Burrows sent away a hard shot on goal in the 26th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. The crowd rose to their feet as Leicester Lions's Nathan Leyburn slotted home a wonderful shot that went in to the left of Iulian Bucurescu. That made the score 2-0 after 32 minutes of play. FC UNIREA Alba Iulia's Iulian Bucurescu proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 34th minute of the match, managed to save FC UNIREA Alba Iulia from getting a goal against them. Vic Burrows in the 36thth minute had a little luck and got a chance for a shot in front of the goal. Without hesitation aimed to the right of Iulian Bucurescu, who managed to lunge to the right direction and made a save. In the 39th minute the ball was on its way in behind FC UNIREA Alba Iulia's goalkeeper Iulian Bucurescu, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. Max Wills fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 41st minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Iulian Bucurescu having to interfere.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Tudor Bărbânță to strike the kick off in the second half. Iulian Bucurescu took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Ronan Walls, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Alin Agud hit a great freekick 53 minutes into the match. Gerry Neville showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Alin Agud, who was totally free with the ball in the 56th minute. The audience was convinced that Vic Burrows's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Iulian Bucurescu was relentless in the 59th minute of the game. Iulian Bucurescu showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Vic Burrows in the 60th minute of the match. In the 64th minute, Ashley Hamilton hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. The long shot by Mihai Odobescu in the 65th minute really tested Gerry Neville'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. 68 minutes into the match, Leicester Lions's goalkeeper Gerry Neville had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Emanuel Finteșteanu. Warren Hardcastle charged in rather forcefully in the 70th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Warren Hardcastle the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. Gerry Neville made an important save on a dangerous shot by Emanuel Finteșteanu in the 71st minute. Gerry Neville made a fantastic save in the 73rd minute, when Alin Agud sent off a good shot on target. FC UNIREA Alba Iulia's Iulian Bucurescu played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Vic Burrows in the 76th minute of play. After 82 minutes of play, Leicester Lions's Vic Burrows made it 3-0 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Iulian Bucurescu was left in no man's land by his defense there! FC UNIREA Alba Iulia's Iulian Bucurescu played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Vic Burrows in the 84th minute of play. Nathan Leyburn recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 86th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. In the 90th minute, Marian Enășoiu hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. In the 93rd minute Max Wills shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Iulian Bucurescu saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. The Leicester Lions fans' excitement grew in the 96th match minute when Leicester Lions's Vic Burrows 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 4-0 before the goalkeeper had a chance to intervene. For all the effort they put into the match, the FC UNIREA Alba Iulia players left disappointed. They had fought hard, but couldn't break down the home team's defense. The match ended in a win for Leicester Lions.