U23 World League

Hanne-Sobek-Stadion
Spectators: 8085 (Terracing: 6065, Seating: 1859, VIP seats: 161) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Adam Jäckel started the match with the kick off. In the 3rd match minute, C Ａ R D I N Ａ L was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Teodoro Gotzon to maneuver through the defense. 4 minutes into the match, Hertha 1969's Pascal Prinzing sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Ilie Oprea narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Mark Stripf sent away a hard shot on goal in the 7th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After a rather tough play, Hertha 1969's Wilfried Biehle got a free kick in the 11th minute. In the 12th minute of the match Jean-Jacques Ares shot from a long distance. The ball could have gone into the goal to the right of the goalkeeper, but Tjark Ernst showed his good shape when he easily got hold of the ball. In the 24th minute, Deng Kun Xu hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. 30 minutes into the game, Herminio Vincente cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 0-1. Tjark Ernst was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. Tjark Ernst showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Herminio Vincente, who was totally free with the ball in the 33rd minute. 35 minutes into the game, Hertha 1969's Mark Stripf nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Ilie Oprea made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 1-1. Hertha 1969's Tjark Ernst played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Cazimir Bărbătescu in the 42nd minute of play. The supporters of C Ａ R D I N Ａ L booed when Hertha 1969 was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 46 match minutes in a wonderful position. Adam Jäckel didn't get a good kick on the ball. Tjark Ernst made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Robert Ţugui in the 47th minute of play. After a very even first half the match was still tied. The players went to their respective dressing rooms to discuss the tactics for the second half.

The wind increased when Herminio Vincente made the kick off in the second half. Hertha 1969's Tjark Ernst proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 51st minute of the match, managed to save Hertha 1969 from getting a goal against them. Adam Jäckel hit a great freekick 53 minutes into the match. Tjark Ernst showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Deng Kun Xu in the 56th minute of the match. With an all-out effort, C Ａ R D I N Ａ L's Tjark Ernst threw himself towards the right post 58 minutes into the match and grabbed hold of the ball from Deng Kun Xu, which otherwise would have been placed in the net. The audience thought a goal was coming when Herminio Vincente got free with Tjark Ernst in the 63rd minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. In the 65th minute Deng Kun Xu shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Tjark Ernst saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 72nd minute, Adam Jäckel made a precise shot to the right of Ilie Oprea. C Ａ R D I N Ａ L's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 2-1. Deng Kun Xu kicked well hit freekick during the 75th minute of the match. If Herminio Vincente had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 79th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Robert Ţugui could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 82nd minute of the match, but Tjark Ernst made a huge save. Hertha 1969's Tjark Ernst proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 85th minute of the match, managed to save Hertha 1969 from getting a goal against them. With an all-out effort, C Ａ R D I N Ａ L's Tjark Ernst threw himself towards the right post 90 minutes into the match and grabbed hold of the ball from Deng Kun Xu, which otherwise would have been placed in the net. Many of C Ａ R D I N Ａ L's supporters were seen to leave the ground early as it became clear their team was going to lose. C Ａ R D I N Ａ L may have spent more time on the ball, but Hertha 1969 were more willing to take their chances and they walked away with the win.