U23 World League

☆ Minas Tirith ☆
Spectators: 8010 (Terracing: 6009, Seating: 1842, VIP seats: 159) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Alin Chiru started the match with the kick off. Dumitru Firu took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Zhang Bin Hai, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Gondor FC™'s Rafa Nadal played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Alin Chiru in the 4th minute of play. In the 6th minute Paul Taşcu shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Rafa Nadal saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Rafa Nadal showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Paul Taşcu in the 6th minute of the match. Rafa Nadal made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Constantin Bâlea in the 7th minute of play. 16 minutes into the game, Constantin Bâlea cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 0-1. Rafa Nadal was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Zhang Bin Hai in the 23rd managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Dumitru Firu saved FC Acatar from getting behind. An unexpectedly hard shot by Zhang Bin Hai in the 25th minute of play forced FC Acatar's goalkeeper Dumitru Firu to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Gondor FC™ were awarded a corner in the 28th minute after FC Acatar's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Safet Sušić took the corner. Safet Sušić made a great header on Gondor FC™'s corner, it was just that FC Acatar's Dumitru Firu managed to reach the ball for a save. Dumitru Firu made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Zhang Bin Hai in the 30th minute of play. 31 minutes had been played when some careless play by FC Acatar's defense caused the ball to cross the line for a corner. Safet Sušić was slow to take the kick. During this time Gondor FC™'s players had a chance to rest. The corner led Gondor FC™'s Safet Nadarević to fire away a dangerous shot which Dumitru Firu despite some difficulties managed to get hold on the ball. Alin Chiru fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 36th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Rafa Nadal having to interfere. After some careless play in the Gondor FC™ defense, Phoenix Phoenix kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Rafa Nadal. The Gondor FC™ fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Rafa Nadal should have stopped the shot. Gondor FC™'s Šukrija Pejović was substituted for Bertil Åkesson. Gondor FC™'s attacker deliberately struck the ball against an opponent to win a corner for his team. The corner was taken by Safet Sušić in the 49th minute. A well-hit corner resulted in Zé Pedro Furlan heading the ball towards the goal, but to his dismay he misdirected it and missed the goal completely. Even after changing tactics the home team jogged off the field with a 0-2 deficit. They would have to work harder if they wanted to turn things around in the second half.

Emin Peraica sent away a hard shot on goal in the 55th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. 57 minutes into the match, Gondor FC™'s goal looked a bit too open when Paul Taşcu came free, but Rafa Nadal reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 58th minute Safet Sušić shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Dumitru Firu saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Elfráður Legolas received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 64th minute. Dumitru Firu tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Alin Chiru received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 70th minute. Rafa Nadal tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Šukrija Pejović hit a great freekick 72 minutes into the match. Phoenix Phoenix could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 73rd minute of the match, but Rafa Nadal made a huge save. With a little luck, Gondor FC™'s Rafa Nadal got control of the ball when Alin Chiru tried to sneak it across the goal line. FC Acatar were awarded a corner in the 76th minute after Gondor FC™'s defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Paul Taşcu took the corner. Florin Martin hit a great freekick 79 minutes into the match. Hamid Hamedović fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 80th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Dumitru Firu having to interfere. In the 87th minute Constantin Bâlea shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Rafa Nadal saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Aragorn Ranger in the 89th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Dumitru Firu prevented the ball from getting in the gole. 94 minutes into the match, Gondor FC™'s goalkeeper Rafa Nadal had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Phoenix Phoenix. FC Acatar's Dumitru Firu played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Aragorn Ranger in the 97th minute of play. Dumitru Firu showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Hamid Hamedović, who was totally free with the ball in the 98th minute. In the 100th minute of the match Gondor FC™ got a corner. FC Acatar's goalie ran out to the linesman to protest the call, but the linesman resolutely pointed his flag at the cornerflag. Safet Sušić ran over to the corner to take the kick. FC Acatar's supporters were very happy and cheered loudly because their team had won after a very close match.