U21 World League

Emirates Stadium
Spectators: 7967 (Terracing: 5977, Seating: 1832, VIP seats: 158) The mood of the audience was pleasant when Vintilă Şimonca made the kick off which started today's match. After 9 minutes of play, Espen Steelers's Kurt Wüthrich made it 1-0 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Jimmie Ek was left in no man's land by his defense there! Jimmie Ek was out of position in the 13 minute of play, and Salomone Weber capitalized on the mistake with a soft shot into the goal. Salomone Weber really showed his touch with that goal: 2-0. 23 minutes into the match, Vintilă Şimonca had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Jörg Stiel. Espen Steelers's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Vintilă Şimonca was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 2-1. The audience was convinced that Karl-Michael Jansson's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Jörg Stiel was relentless in the 28th minute of the game. After a rather tough play, Espen Steelers's Henri Schwersenz got a free kick in the 29th minute. Jimmie Ek took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Henri Schwersenz, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Salomone Weber received a nice pass, split the defenders, and ran untouched towards the goal. Jimmie Ek came out and tried to block the shot, but Salomone Weber slotted it home off the left post making it 3-1 in the 35th minute. Jörg Stiel made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Vintilă Şimonca in the 39th minute of play. 42 minutes into the match, Firma Barnängen's goalkeeper Jimmie Ek had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Henri Schwersenz. João Pedro Pepe's late challenge caught a Espen Steelers's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. João Pedro Pepe helped the player get up and apologised. In the 42nd minute, João Pedro Pepe hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Aleksander Blomkvist received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 45th minute. Jörg Stiel tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Firma Barnängen's Aleksander Blomkvist got a good chance for a goal in the 48th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. The home fans were very happy to see their team leading 3-1 at half-time.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Salomone Weber stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. If Vintilă Şimonca had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 58th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. Jimmie Ek took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Kurt Wüthrich, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 66th minute Henri Schwersenz shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Jimmie Ek saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Vintilă Şimonca charged in rather forcefully in the 67th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Vintilă Şimonca the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. Espen Steelers's Falko Reimann was substituted for Mauro Aebi. A collision led to Firma Barnängen getting a freekick after 69 minutes play. Vintilă Şimonca hit a great ball. Jimmie Ek took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Kurt Wüthrich, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 75th match minute, Firma Barnängen was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by João Pedro Pepe to maneuver through the defense. In the 79th minute Kurt Wüthrich shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Jimmie Ek saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Orvar Gullesson struck a weak shot in the 82nd minute. Jörg Stiel didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Firma Barnängen. 88 minutes into the match, Firma Barnängen's goal looked a bit too open when Henri Schwersenz came free, but Jimmie Ek reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Jörg Stiel took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Vintilă Şimonca, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Espen Steelers's fans were exulted and cheered after their team won in a match that could easily have gone the other way.