U23 World League

La Bombonera
Spectators: 7692 (Terracing: 5770, Seating: 1769, VIP seats: 153) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when Melchor Rosio kicked off to start the match. After 4 played minutes Sporting de Gijón got a freekick which was hit by Elpidio Bixintxo. Efim Lentovskiy fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 8th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Sergio Romero having to interfere. Melchor Rosio's shot when he came free in front of the goal in the 14thth minute, Svyatoslav Botvinnikov skillfully showed off with a save to what seemed to be an obvious goal. Veniamin Kozhanov received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 16th minute. Sergio Romero tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. After 18 played minutes FC Barcelona Lassa got a freekick which was hit by Ilya Abramov. Elpidio Bixintxo could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 19th minute of the match, but Svyatoslav Botvinnikov made a huge save. Veniamin Kozhanov blasted a shot towards the goal in the 25th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Sergio Romero having to make a save. A collision led to FC Barcelona Lassa getting a freekick after 26 minutes play. Veniamin Kozhanov hit a great ball. 29 minutes into the match, Vitaliy Tinkov had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Sergio Romero. Sporting de Gijón's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Vitaliy Tinkov was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 0-1. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Vitaliy Tinkov during the 37th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Efim Lentovskiy during the 45th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. The supporters of Sporting de Gijón booed when FC Barcelona Lassa was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 45 match minutes in a wonderful position. Efim Lentovskiy didn't get a good kick on the ball. The crowd was extremely unhappy with the home team's performance in the first half. They were losing 0-1.

Sporting de Gijón made a substitution. Damián Šilha replaced Benigno Eriz. When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Vitaliy Tinkov made a kick off. 53 minutes into the match, Sporting de Gijón's goal looked a bit too open when Vitaliy Tinkov came free, but Sergio Romero reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After some fancy dribbling in the 56th minute, Veniamin Kozhanov managed to get in a good position for a shot. FC Barcelona Lassa's supporters rose to their feet, but Veniamin Kozhanov was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Sergio Romero breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Veniamin Kozhanov sent away a hard shot on goal in the 56th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. If Celestino Illart had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 60th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. Elpidio Bixintxo took the ball and in the 73 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Svyatoslav Botvinnikov. Svyatoslav Botvinnikov dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 1-1. Efim Lentovskiy sent away a hard shot on goal in the 82nd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Sporting de Gijón's Timoteo Eguntsenti was substituted for Angel Di Maria. Pascual Tipi sent away a hard shot on goal in the 86th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Svyatoslav Botvinnikov made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Elpidio Bixintxo in the 93rd minute of play. Despite being the better team, FC Barcelona Lassa failed to find the winning goal and were forced to settle for a single point.