U23 World League

Camp Nou
Spectators: 7674 (Terracing: 5756, Seating: 1765, VIP seats: 153) Vitaliy Tinkov started the match with the kick off in front of an excited audience. Melchor Rosio fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 3rd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Svyatoslav Botvinnikov having to interfere. Zinoviy Kornilov could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 5th minute of the match, but Sergio Romero made a huge save. In the 6th minute FC Barcelona Lassa were awarded a corner. Ilya Abramov went to the cornerflag to take it. Ilya Abramov might have been able to make a better finish in the 9th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Sergio Romero. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Ilya Abramov ran back to his position shaking his head. Sporting de Gijón's Elpidio Bixintxo got a good chance for a goal in the 15th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. A collision led to FC Barcelona Lassa getting a freekick after 17 minutes play. Vitaliy Tinkov hit a great ball. After a defensive mix-up in FC Barcelona Lassa's zone, Elpidio Bixintxo stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Svyatoslav Botvinnikov came out of the goal and Elpidio Bixintxo tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. In the 22nd minute Melchor Rosio shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Svyatoslav Botvinnikov saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 24th minute of the match Sporting de Gijón got a corner. FC Barcelona Lassa's goalie ran out to the linesman to protest the call, but the linesman resolutely pointed his flag at the cornerflag. Benigno Eriz ran over to the corner to take the kick. The corner led Sporting de Gijón's Benigno Eriz to fire away a dangerous shot which Svyatoslav Botvinnikov despite some difficulties managed to get hold on the ball. After some fancy dribbling in the 29th minute, Zinoviy Kornilov managed to get in a good position for a shot. FC Barcelona Lassa's supporters rose to their feet, but Zinoviy Kornilov 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. After 31 minutes, Angel Di Maria mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Sporting de Gijón and the FC Barcelona Lassa players grew even worse after the yellow card. After a rather tough play, Sporting de Gijón's Angel Di Maria got a free kick in the 31st minute. After 35 minutes, Pavel Kachaev mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the FC Barcelona Lassa and the Sporting de Gijón players grew even worse after the yellow card. FC Barcelona Lassa's Svyatoslav Botvinnikov played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Melchor Rosio in the 36th minute of play. 37 minutes into the match, FC Barcelona Lassa's goal looked a bit too open when Angel Di Maria came free, but Svyatoslav Botvinnikov reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Zinoviy Kornilov fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 40th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Sergio Romero having to interfere. In the 44th minute, Vladimir Krestovskiy hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Vitaliy Tinkov fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 47th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Sergio Romero having to interfere. Sporting de Gijón made a substitution. Damián Šilha replaced Benigno Eriz.

60 minutes into the game, Válter Nogueira was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Sporting de Gijón's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave FC Barcelona Lassa the free kick. 67 minutes into the match, Sporting de Gijón's Elpidio Bixintxo sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Svyatoslav Botvinnikov narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Elpidio Bixintxo recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 75th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. FC Barcelona Lassa's Svyatoslav Botvinnikov played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Elpidio Bixintxo in the 78th minute of play. 80 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. Svyatoslav Botvinnikov made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Elpidio Bixintxo in the 84th minute of play. Efim Lentovskiy received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 88th minute. Sergio Romero tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. When Elpidio Bixintxo came up free with the goalie in the 93rd minute, the Sporting de Gijón 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 Elpidio Bixintxo couldn't finish the play. In the 95th minute Elpidio Bixintxo shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Svyatoslav Botvinnikov saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Oles Byshovets hit a great freekick 96 minutes into the match. Although FC Barcelona Lassa had been in control for most of the match, Sporting de Gijón still came away with the win.