U23 World League

Down Park
Spectators: 8016 (Terracing: 6014, Seating: 1843, VIP seats: 159) PICCOLE PESTI's Bernardino Vedillo 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. After a defensive mix-up in Downchester City's zone, Bernardino Vedillo stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Saturnin Darroja came out of the goal and Bernardino Vedillo tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. After a rather tough play, PICCOLE PESTI's Jude Van Landschoot got a free kick in the 13th minute. After some fancy dribbling in the 14th minute, Xabat Figueroa managed to get in a good position for a shot. Downchester City's supporters rose to their feet, but Xabat Figueroa was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Miguel Orlondon breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. 19 minutes into the match, Downchester City's goal looked a bit too open when Fortunato Brini came free, but Saturnin Darroja reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 26th minute of the match Downchester City got a corner. PICCOLE PESTI's goalie ran out to the linesman to protest the call, but the linesman resolutely pointed his flag at the cornerflag. Xabat Figueroa ran over to the corner to take the kick. 30 minutes into the match, Downchester City's goal looked a bit too open when Bernardino Vedillo came free, but Saturnin Darroja reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Miguel Orlondon came out of the goal in the 34th minute to try and stop a shot by Downchester City's Sven Christoffersson. But to his dismay, Sven Christoffersson quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 1-0. In the 38th minute Secondo Arshavin shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Saturnin Darroja saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. If Ettore Varglien had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 42nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. When Jude Van Landschoot fell near the penalty area in the 47th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored PICCOLE PESTI's protests and gave Jude Van Landschoot a yellow card for diving instead. The away team players looked dejected as the walked off the pitch at half time. They had fought hard, but were still losing 1-0.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Jamar Paige made a kick off. When Bernardino Vedillo came up free with the goalie in the 51st minute, the PICCOLE PESTI 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 Bernardino Vedillo couldn't finish the play. PICCOLE PESTI's Miguel Orlondon played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Jamar Paige in the 53rd minute of play. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Fortunato Brini during the 55th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. Fortunato Brini kicked well hit freekick during the 55th minute of the match. In the 58th minute of the match, Fortunato Brini tried to roll the ball into the goal by the right post, but Saturnin Darroja saw his intentions and got control of the ball before it passed the line. Miguel Orlondon made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Jamar Paige in the 69th minute of play. Saturnin Darroja showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Bernardino Vedillo, who was totally free with the ball in the 76th minute. Jamar Paige fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 78th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Miguel Orlondon having to interfere. PICCOLE PESTI made a substitution. Per Lidman replaced Ettore Varglien. Downchester City's Saturnin Darroja played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Armando Corna in the 81st minute of play. In the 84th minute Armando Corna shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Saturnin Darroja saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. The audience thought a goal was coming when Per Lidman got free with Saturnin Darroja in the 88th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. A collision led to PICCOLE PESTI getting a freekick after 88 minutes play. Armando Corna hit a great ball. In the 89th minute, Armando Corna hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. The supporters of Downchester City booed when PICCOLE PESTI was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 91 match minutes in a wonderful position. Bernabe Urki didn't get a good kick on the ball. Xabat Figueroa took a chance and fired a shot far from the goal in the 92nd minute, but it turned out to be a dangerous situation for Miguel Orlondon. PICCOLE PESTI's goalkeeper really had to stretch himself to stop the ball from crossing the goal line. When the match had gone on for 95 minutes, Per Lidman took a quick shot and it went in 1-2 without a chance for Saturnin Darroja to make any attempt to save it. Chants of PICCOLE PESTI echoed around the stadium as the match drew to a close. Supporters and players were both delighted with the win, as Downchester City had held the ball for most of the match.