U23 World League

Sami Zübeyr Arena
Spectators: 7981 (Terracing: 5987, Seating: 1835, VIP seats: 159) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Anatoly Karpov started the match with the kick off. Vlad Joldea made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Vali Mitu in the 4th minute of play. 13 minutes into the match, FC Maci -MM-'s goal looked a bit too open when Émeric Giraudo came free, but Vladimir Kramnik reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 13th minute, Émeric Giraudo left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The Tours Football Club fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 0-1. Gelu Bâru kicked well hit freekick during the 19th minute of the match. 21 minutes into the match, FC Maci -MM-'s goal looked a bit too open when Émeric Giraudo came free, but Vladimir Kramnik reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Vladimir Kramnik came out of the goal in the 22nd minute to try and stop a shot by Tours Football Club's Émeric Giraudo. But to his dismay, Émeric Giraudo quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 0-2. The Tours Football Club fans' excitement grew in the 26th match minute when Tours Football Club's Émeric Giraudo looked to have a clear shot with the ball near the goal. The shot wasn't hard, but the ball still rolled over the goal line to make it 0-3 before the goalkeeper had a chance to intervene. Émeric Giraudo struck a weak shot in the 29th minute. Vladimir Kramnik didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Tours Football Club. Vladimir Kramnik showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Willy Sauvestre, who was totally free with the ball in the 31st minute. In the 33rd minute Émeric Giraudo shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Vladimir Kramnik saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Vladimir Kramnik didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Willy Sauvestre went, in the 35th minute, to the upper right corner, 0-4 was the resulting score. Vlad Joldea made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Sabin Miclauș in the 39th minute of play. In the 39th minute, Sabin Miclauș left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The FC Maci -MM- fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 1-4. Christophe Régnault hit a great freekick 41 minutes into the match. Anatoly Karpov's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Vlad Joldea read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 42nd minute of play. Even after changing tactics the home team jogged off the field with a 1-4 deficit. They would have to work harder if they wanted to turn things around in the second half.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Émeric Giraudo made a kick off. Vladimir Kramnik showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Émeric Giraudo in the 51st minute of the match. FC Maci -MM-'s Vladimir Kramnik proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 55th minute of the match, managed to save FC Maci -MM- from getting a goal against them. Vali Mitu kicked well hit freekick during the 56th minute of the match. In the 58th minute Aziz Koehler shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Vladimir Kramnik saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. 60 minutes into the match, FC Maci -MM-'s goal looked a bit too open when Émeric Giraudo came free, but Vladimir Kramnik reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. A collision led to FC Maci -MM- getting a freekick after 61 minutes play. Anatoly Karpov hit a great ball. In the 72nd minute Émeric Giraudo shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Vladimir Kramnik saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. An unexpectedly hard shot by Anatoly Karpov in the 81st minute of play forced Tours Football Club's goalkeeper Vlad Joldea to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. After a defensive mix-up in FC Maci -MM-'s zone, Willy Sauvestre stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Vladimir Kramnik came out of the goal and Willy Sauvestre tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Ştefan Mugur hit a great freekick 95 minutes into the match. Tours Football Club played a much better game than FC Maci -MM- and deserved their victory. The FC Maci -MM- players were clearly disappointed as they left the ground.