U18 World League

SARUMAN Arena
Spectators: 7465 (Terracing: 5600, Seating: 1716, VIP seats: 149) CLC Winter's Cosimo Epifani 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. A collision led to CLC Winter getting a freekick after 4 minutes play. Dave Tarantini hit a great ball. David Elorri sent away a hard shot on goal in the 6th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Alberigo Falasca struck a weak shot in the 8th minute. Nunez Iruinea didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for CLC Winter. Alberigo Falasca's late challenge caught a Falcor Athletic Club's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Alberigo Falasca helped the player get up and apologised. In the 9th match minute, CLC Winter was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Alberigo Falasca to maneuver through the defense. In the 13th match minute, Falcor Athletic Club was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Atilano Hermelando to maneuver through the defense. 15 minutes into the match, CLC Winter's goal looked a bit too open when David Elorri came free, but Diego Di Massimo reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Falcor Athletic Club's David Elorri was standing unmarked in front of the goal when he, in the 22nd play minute, got the ball and easily drilled it into the goal. After 25 minutes, Gervasio Arce mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Falcor Athletic Club and the CLC Winter players grew even worse after the yellow card. Nunez Iruinea showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Alberigo Falasca in the 27th minute of the match. 29 minutes into the match, David Elorri had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Diego Di Massimo. CLC Winter's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that David Elorri was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 2-0. With a little luck, CLC Winter's Diego Di Massimo got control of the ball when David Elorri tried to sneak it across the goal line. In the 36th minute, Armando Melis left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The CLC Winter fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 2-1. After a rather tough play, CLC Winter's Cosimo Epifani got a free kick in the 42nd minute. The away team players looked dejected as the walked off the pitch at half time. They had fought hard, but were still losing 2-1.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and David Elorri made a kick off. After 51 minutes, Filomeno Lleir mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Falcor Athletic Club and the CLC Winter players grew even worse after the yellow card. With his leg Nunez Iruinea managed to avoid a goal in the 55thth minute, when CLC Winter's Cosimo Epifani fired away a shot with a lot of spin towards his right hand side. In the 59th minute, CLC Winter's Alberigo Falasca dribbled the ball into the box and hit a shot with the outside of his foot, sending the keeper the wrong way. 2-2. In the 65thth minute of the game David Elorri who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but CLC Winter's Diego Di Massimo was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. In the 67th minute David Elorri shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Diego Di Massimo saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. The supporters of Falcor Athletic Club booed when CLC Winter was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 73 match minutes in a wonderful position. Dave Tarantini didn't get a good kick on the ball. Gervasio Arce kicked well hit freekick during the 76th minute of the match. A collision led to Falcor Athletic Club getting a freekick after 82 minutes play. Ruperto Millrick hit a great ball. Armando Melis fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 87th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Nunez Iruinea having to interfere. Alberigo Sorge received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 89th minute. Nunez Iruinea tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. After having played for 91 minutes, Cosimo Epifani managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. CLC Winter's supporters crossed their fingers, but Cosimo Epifani was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. After 94 played minutes Falcor Athletic Club got a freekick which was hit by David Elorri. The CLC Winter players were relieved to hear the final whistle blow to end the match. The away crowd was happy to see their team win after a very tight game.