U21 World League

Olympia
Spectators: 7481 (Terracing: 5612, Seating: 1720, VIP seats: 149) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Fernandinho Urbano took the kick off in the first half of the match. A collision led to Corinthians getting a freekick after 3 minutes play. Fernandinho Urbano hit a great ball. An unexpectedly hard shot by Fernandinho Urbano in the 5th minute of play forced Norrlands Athen's goalkeeper Kent Backman to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Fernandinho Urbano received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 9th minute. Kent Backman tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Rune Falkrans during the 10th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. Jardel Mineiro struck a weak shot in the 12th minute. Kent Backman didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Corinthians. The supporters of Corinthians booed when Norrlands Athen was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 15 match minutes in a wonderful position. Rickard Andreasson didn't get a good kick on the ball. Mauro Dante sent away a hard shot on goal in the 20th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. The supporters of Corinthians booed when Norrlands Athen was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 21 match minutes in a wonderful position. Oskar Björk didn't get a good kick on the ball. 22 minutes into the match, Norrlands Athen's goal looked a bit too open when Víktor Sarmento came free, but Kent Backman reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. 24 minutes into the game, Holger Lundin lined in a short shot 1-0 behind a frustrated Romeu Souto. A collision led to Norrlands Athen getting a freekick after 30 minutes play. Oskar Björk hit a great ball. In the 31st minute Almir Furlan shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Kent Backman saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 34th minute, Holger Lundin ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Romeu Souto was frozen by the shot and now it was 2-0. Romeu Souto made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Holger Lundin in the 38th minute of play. 44 minutes into the match, Corinthians's goalkeeper Romeu Souto had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Holger Lundin. In the 46th minute, Víktor Sarmento hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Holger Lundin to make the kick off. Romeu Souto stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Holger Lundin's shot from short distance in the 56th minute. In the 61st minute of the match Norrlands Athen got a corner. Corinthians's goalie ran out to the linesman to protest the call, but the linesman resolutely pointed his flag at the cornerflag. Per-Oskar Alefors ran over to the corner to take the kick. After taking down the ball on Norrlands Athen's corner Per-Oskar Alefors fired away a hard shot, but the defenders efficiently covered the most dangerous angles and Romeu Souto quite easily take care of the ball. Holger Lundin sent away a hard shot on goal in the 63rd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Mauro Dante could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 66th minute of the match, but Kent Backman made a huge save. If Mauro Dante had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 67th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Norrlands Athen's Kent Backman proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 69th minute of the match, managed to save Norrlands Athen from getting a goal against them. Kent Backman made an important save on a dangerous shot by Víktor Sarmento in the 73rd minute. In the 74th minute, Corinthians's Mauro Dante ran free of his marker and smoothly shot the ball into the goal behind Kent Backman. Kent Backman yelled at his defense, as they had left him out to dry. 2-1. Norrlands Athen's defense didn't have a chance, in the 77th minute, when Edmílson Matorin scored to the left of an out of position Kent Backman, making the score, 2-2. After a defensive mix-up in Corinthians's zone, Holger Lundin stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Romeu Souto came out of the goal and Holger Lundin tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Kent Backman was out of position in the 90 minute of play, and Edmílson Matorin capitalized on the mistake with a soft shot into the goal. Edmílson Matorin really showed his touch with that goal: 2-3. 93 minutes into the game, Edmílson Matorin recieved a splendid long ball, split the defenders, and gently placed the ball to the left of Kent Backman. Edmílson Matorin showed that you don't have to tear a hole in the net to score, 2-4. Corinthians's supporters were very happy and cheered loudly because their team had won after a very close match.