U18 World League

Phoenix Field
Spectators: 7499 (Terracing: 5625, Seating: 1725, VIP seats: 149) The mood of the audience was pleasant when Sakarias Hellbom made the kick off which started today's match. 7 minutes into the match, Phoenix Strikers's goal looked a bit too open when Sakarias Hellbom came free, but Johnny Visch reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. If Ion Africano had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 9th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. A collision led to Gnesta Oilers getting a freekick after 12 minutes play. Sven-Åke Gadd hit a great ball. Ion Africano could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 15th minute of the match, but Erling Bergfelt made a huge save. Gnesta Oilers's Rikard Östlund quite brazenly broke a throw-in by Anton Păun, made in the 17th minute of the game. If Sakarias Hellbom had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 25th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After a rather tough play, Phoenix Strikers's Eduard Boroș got a free kick in the 31st minute. In the 32nd minute the ball was on its way in behind Phoenix Strikers's goalkeeper Johnny Visch, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. The supporters of Gnesta Oilers booed when Phoenix Strikers was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 33 match minutes in a wonderful position. Costin Dobrițoiu didn't get a good kick on the ball. 35 minutes into the match, Gnesta Oilers's goalkeeper Erling Bergfelt had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Ion Africano. 37 minutes into the match, Gnesta Oilers's goal looked a bit too open when Eduard Boroș came free, but Erling Bergfelt reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Jim Bratt received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 39th minute. Johnny Visch tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Johnny Visch didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Sakarias Hellbom went, in the 41st minute, to the upper right corner, 0-1 was the resulting score. The crowd was extremely unhappy with the home team's performance in the first half. They were losing 0-1.

The wind increased when Ion Africano made the kick off in the second half. Erling Bergfelt showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Ion Africano, who was totally free with the ball in the 53rd minute. Erling Bergfelt took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Ion Africano, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Anton Păun charged in rather forcefully in the 56th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Anton Păun the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. In the 56th minute, Anton Păun hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. After some careless play in the Gnesta Oilers defense, Eduard Boroș kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Erling Bergfelt. The Gnesta Oilers fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Erling Bergfelt should have stopped the shot. Ion Africano took the ball and in the 64 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Erling Bergfelt. Erling Bergfelt dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 2-1. In the 69th minute, Emilian Râznicu hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Johnny Visch showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Sven-Åke Gadd, who was totally free with the ball in the 69th minute. 72 minutes into the match, Gnesta Oilers's goal looked a bit too open when Eduard Boroș came free, but Erling Bergfelt reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. 73 minutes had been played when some careless play by Gnesta Oilers's defense caused the ball to cross the line for a corner. Gigel Enășoiu was slow to take the kick. During this time Phoenix Strikers's players had a chance to rest. The corner ended in Gigel Enășoiu almost managing to get the ball behind the net, but Gnesta Oilers's Erling Bergfelt did a great save. Eduard Boroș sent away a hard shot on goal in the 82nd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. 85 minutes into the match, Gnesta Oilers's goal looked a bit too open when Ion Africano came free, but Erling Bergfelt reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. The referee blew the whistle for a penalty in the 87th minute of the game. One of Phoenix Strikers:s players had nearly got his shirt torn off by an opponent while getting free in front of Gnesta Oilers:s goal. When the match had been going on for 88 minutes, Gnesta Oilers's Sven-Åke Gadd got an opportunity to shoot a penalty. He stayed cool and waited for the goalkeeper to move, before he confidently shot the ball into the goal, to the left of Johnny Visch. Sakarias Hellbom sent away a hard shot on goal in the 96th minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. Despite being the better team, Gnesta Oilers failed to find the winning goal and were forced to settle for a single point.