U23 World League

CARLITOS BIANCHI
Spectators: 7687 (Terracing: 5766, Seating: 1768, VIP seats: 153) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when Marian Beninda kicked off to start the match. Alfredo Joachim hit a great freekick 6 minutes into the match. El ABUELO FC's Rafael Pitin played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Hélio Vaz in the 7th minute of play. Rafael Pitin stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Hélio Vaz's shot from short distance in the 8th minute. The audience thought a goal was coming when Higinio Videl got free with Ignacy Zagrobelny in the 13th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. The audience was convinced that Hélio Vaz's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Rafael Pitin was relentless in the 15th minute of the game. Ignacy Zagrobelny took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Higinio Videl, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Rafael Pitin showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Hélio Vaz, who was totally free with the ball in the 18th minute. Hélio Vaz blasted a shot towards the goal in the 19th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Rafael Pitin having to make a save. Sergio Txurio might have been able to make a better finish in the 22nd minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Ignacy Zagrobelny. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Sergio Txurio ran back to his position shaking his head. The referee blew the whistle for a penalty in the 23rd minute of the game. One of El ABUELO FC:s players had nearly got his shirt torn off by an opponent while getting free in front of KS LEW Chorzów:s goal. Ignacy Zagrobelny showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Evelio Bladi in the 26th minute of the match. Hélio Vaz struck a weak shot in the 27th minute. Rafael Pitin didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for KS LEW Chorzów. In the 29thth minute of the game Higinio Videl who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but KS LEW Chorzów's Ignacy Zagrobelny was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. In the 30th minute Hélio Vaz shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Rafael Pitin saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 33rd minute, Alberto Etxekopar got an opportunity to score, but he didn't get a solid hit on the ball and ended up kicking it wide of the goal. If Hélio Vaz had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 39th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. Rafael Pitin made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Hélio Vaz in the 39th minute of play. In the 40th minute, Sergio Txurio hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Rafael Pitin took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Pedro Luís Alcântara, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. The score stood at 0-0 when the half time whistle went. Both sets of players seemed reasonably pleased with how the match was going.

The wind increased when Higinio Videl made the kick off in the second half. In the 50th match minute, KS LEW Chorzów was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Pedro Luís Alcântara to maneuver through the defense. Ignacy Zagrobelny made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Walt Samuel in the 52nd minute of play. Rafael Pitin made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Big Egø in the 59th minute of play. The referee felt a red card was in order, 61 minutes into the game, when Karol Japola put in a rough tackle. In a very dangerous position, a player in KS LEW Chorzów fell when an opponent tried to get the ball from him in the 61st minute. Penalty! In the 65th minute the ball was on its way in behind El ABUELO FC's goalkeeper Rafael Pitin, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. Ignacy Zagrobelny showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Walt Samuel, who was totally free with the ball in the 75th minute. After 81 played minutes KS LEW Chorzów got a freekick which was hit by Bernard Milko. Hélio Vaz received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 84th minute. Rafael Pitin tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. The supporters of El ABUELO FC booed when KS LEW Chorzów was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 87 match minutes in a wonderful position. Pedro Luís Alcântara didn't get a good kick on the ball. Hélio Vaz might have been able to make a better finish in the 90th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Rafael Pitin. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Hélio Vaz ran back to his position shaking his head. KS LEW Chorzów's Ignacy Zagrobelny played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Higinio Videl in the 96th minute of play. The KS LEW Chorzów supporters could be heard counting down the last seconds of the match. They errupted in celebration when the whistle blew, knowing KS LEW Chorzów would go home with victory in their luggage after a match that easily could have ended differently.