U21 World League

Ashbourne Stadium
Spectators: 7673 (Terracing: 5755, Seating: 1765, VIP seats: 153) 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. In the 2nd minute, Ali Muntasir hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. 5 minutes into the match, Líbano's goal looked a bit too open when Ivan Bernad came free, but Hafiz Romad reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Hafiz Romad showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Martin Palermo in the 10th minute of the match. An unexpectedly hard shot by Martin Palermo in the 12th minute of play forced Líbano's goalkeeper Hafiz Romad to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. After some fancy dribbling in the 14th minute, Wassim Suoud managed to get in a good position for a shot. Líbano's supporters rose to their feet, but Wassim Suoud was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Arsenio Maiorga breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. 17 minutes into the match, Ivan Bernad had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Hafiz Romad. Líbano's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Ivan Bernad was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 0-1. In the 21st minute Arsenio Erico shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Hafiz Romad saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. 23 minutes into the game, Martin Palermo cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 0-2. Hafiz Romad was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. Arsenio Maiorga showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Wassim Suoud, who was totally free with the ball in the 26th minute. The supporters of Líbano booed when LTA FC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 27 match minutes in a wonderful position. Federico Tevez didn't get a good kick on the ball. Ali Muntasir made in the 30th minute of the game a sloppy throw-in which Nour Jabbar however managed to control. Arsenio Maiorga showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Salah El Aska in the 32nd minute of the match. Ali Muntasir made in the 33rd minute of the game a fairly good throw-in which was taken care of by Abdul Halim Aban. In the 36th minute, Líbano's Salah El Aska ran free of his marker and smoothly shot the ball into the goal behind Arsenio Maiorga. Arsenio Maiorga yelled at his defense, as they had left him out to dry. 1-2. Martin Palermo's late challenge caught a Líbano's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Martin Palermo helped the player get up and apologised. Arsenio Maiorga took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Abdul Halim Aban, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Wajid Abdul Baqi hit a great freekick 43 minutes into the match. In the 46th minute Wassim Suoud 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. Disappointed in the 1-2 score, the home team went to the dressing room to adjust tactics for the second half.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Abdul Halim Aban was the one to do the kick off. In the 54th minute Wassim Suoud 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. In the 55th minute, Salah El Aska ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Arsenio Maiorga was frozen by the shot and now it was 3-2. Arsenio Maiorga took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Nour Jabbar, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 59th minute the ball was on its way in behind Líbano's goalkeeper Hafiz Romad, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. In the 60th match minute, Líbano was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Dani Tajid to maneuver through the defense. After 67 minutes of play LTA FC's Martin Palermo was too eager in his attempt to stop his opponent and brought him down. With that he got his second yellow card and was ordered off the ground. After 67 played minutes LTA FC got a freekick which was hit by Martin Palermo. LTA FC's Cristian Berdaitz was substituted for Gregorio Castulo. A collision led to LTA FC getting a freekick after 69 minutes play. Martin Palermo hit a great ball. LTA FC's Arsenio Maiorga played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Abdul Halim Aban in the 75th minute of play. Federico Tevez hit a great freekick 76 minutes into the match. After 77 played minutes, Líbano's Salim Haddad shot from a long distance, and at first it looked like the ball was going into the goal, but the goalkeeper Arsenio Maiorga came through and got his fingers on the ball before it flew over the goal line. He then quickly gripped the ball tighter before the forwards in Líbano reached it. After 82 played minutes LTA FC got a freekick which was hit by Gonzalo Txema. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Arsenio Erico during the 93rd minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. Arsenio Erico kicked well hit freekick during the 93rd minute of the match.