U21 World League

Diego A. Maradona
Spectators: 7724 (Terracing: 5794, Seating: 1776, VIP seats: 154) LTA FC's Martin Palermo 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. Arsenio Maiorga stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Robert Koren's shot from short distance in the 8th minute. When the match had gone on for 8 minutes, Robert Koren put it in 0-1 from a short distance just to the right of Arsenio Maiorga. When Ivan Bernad came up free with the goalie in the 11th minute, the LTA FC fans jumped to their feet. But the shot missed the goal by a fraction of an inch, and the fans sat back down disappointed that Ivan Bernad couldn't finish the play. The crowd rose to their feet as Ivan Bernad kicked a wonderful shot that went in to the left of a diving Veselko Recko. That made the score 1-1 in the 15 minute of play. 24 minutes into the match, LTA FC's goal looked a bit too open when Morgan Mišković came free, but Arsenio Maiorga reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 27th minute the ball was on its way in behind NK FOLKROLA's goalkeeper Veselko Recko, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. In the 29th minute Morgan Mišković shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Arsenio Maiorga saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Robert Koren hit a great freekick 32 minutes into the match. In the 37th match minute, LTA FC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Ivan Bernad to maneuver through the defense. 43 minutes into the game, Nasan Drobnjaković threw the ball into play from the sideline. LTA FC's Alfie Basile quickly snatched the ball and retained possesion. 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.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Robert Koren stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. With an all-out effort, NK FOLKROLA's Arsenio Maiorga threw himself towards the right post 58 minutes into the match and grabbed hold of the ball from Borut Holcman, which otherwise would have been placed in the net. 59 minutes into the match, LTA FC's goalkeeper Arsenio Maiorga had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Slavoljub Bukovec. Arsenio Erico's late challenge caught a NK FOLKROLA's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Arsenio Erico helped the player get up and apologised. In the 60th minute, Arsenio Erico hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Robert Koren sent away a hard shot on goal in the 61st minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. NK FOLKROLA's Robert Koren pulled a muscle in his leg after 63 minutes and couldn't finish the game. Federico Tevez's late challenge caught a NK FOLKROLA's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Federico Tevez helped the player get up and apologised. NK FOLKROLA made a substitution. Vidko Bižal replaced Robert Koren. LTA FC's Virgilio Oton was substituted for Martin Palermo. Ivan Bernad's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Veselko Recko read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 71st minute of play. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Virgilio Oton during the 79th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. The supporters of NK FOLKROLA booed when LTA FC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 79 match minutes in a wonderful position. Virgilio Oton didn't get a good kick on the ball. An unexpectedly hard shot by Virgilio Oton in the 84th minute of play forced NK FOLKROLA's goalkeeper Veselko Recko to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. A throw-in in the 85th minute of the game was made by Nasan Drobnjaković with Slavoljub Bukovec as target, who quickly passed the ball forward. A collision led to LTA FC getting a freekick after 85 minutes play. Alfie Basile hit a great ball. Arsenio Erico kicked well hit freekick during the 88th minute of the match. The audience was convinced that Morgan Mišković's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Arsenio Maiorga was relentless in the 91st minute of the game. A sloppy throw-in by Josip Ilič in the 94th minute of the game went astray and was snapped up by LTA FC's Luis Petri. The supporters of NK FOLKROLA booed when LTA FC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 96 match minutes in a wonderful position. Gervasio Ikatz didn't get a good kick on the ball.