U23 World League

To The Moon Arena
Spectators: 7723 (Terracing: 5793, Seating: 1776, VIP seats: 154) Vitória StrikerS™'s Avery Novak started the match with a crisp pass. The crowd had been anticipating this game for weeks and the excitement in the stadium was easily visible. 7 minutes into the match, Vitória StrikerS™'s goal looked a bit too open when Paco Cabedo came free, but La Bolas reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After 15 minutes of play, Vitória StrikerS™'s Avery Novak made it 2-1 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Juan Pedro Owen was left in no man's land by his defense there! With a little luck, CRUZ DEL SUR's Juan Pedro Owen got control of the ball when Avery Novak tried to sneak it across the goal line. In the 23rd minute of the match, Avery Novak tried to roll the ball into the goal by the right post, but Juan Pedro Owen saw his intentions and got control of the ball before it passed the line. In the 24thth minute of the game Juan María Maeztu who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Vitória StrikerS™'s La Bolas was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. La Bolas showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Juan María Maeztu in the 27th minute of the match. After 36 played minutes CRUZ DEL SUR got a freekick which was hit by Paco Cabedo. With his leg Juan Pedro Owen managed to avoid a goal in the 39thth minute, when Vitória StrikerS™'s Cássio Cortez fired away a shot with a lot of spin towards his right hand side. In the 43rd minute, Juan María Maeztu ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. La Bolas was frozen by the shot and now it was 2-2. The first half was very even, with the score at 2-2 when the whistle went for half-time. The players welcomed the break and quickly retired to the dressing rooms.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Paco Cabedo made a kick off. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Paco Cabedo in the 51st minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck La Bolas prevented the ball from getting in the gole. 54 minutes into the match, Vitória StrikerS™'s goalkeeper La Bolas had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Jude Cruz. When the match had gone on for 63 minutes, Paco Cabedo took a quick shot and it went in 2-3 without a chance for La Bolas to make any attempt to save it. In the 66th minute, Vid Murgelj hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. In the 67th minute of the match Jorge Varanda sent off a long shot with destination to the right of the goalkeeper, but Juan Pedro Owen skillfully saved the ball. The audience was convinced that Juan María Maeztu's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but La Bolas was relentless in the 70th minute of the game. In the 72nd minute Avery Novak shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Juan Pedro Owen saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. After having played for 76 minutes, Juan María Maeztu managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. CRUZ DEL SUR's supporters crossed their fingers, but Juan María Maeztu was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. When Vid Murgelj fell near the penalty area in the 77th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored CRUZ DEL SUR's protests and gave Vid Murgelj a yellow card for diving instead. After a rather tough play, CRUZ DEL SUR's Vid Murgelj got a free kick in the 77th minute. 78 minutes into the match, CRUZ DEL SUR's goal looked a bit too open when Avery Novak came free, but Juan Pedro Owen reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Juan Pedro Owen took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Artur Estrada, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. An unexpectedly hard shot by Avery Novak in the 85th minute of play forced CRUZ DEL SUR's goalkeeper Juan Pedro Owen to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. 88 minutes into the match, CRUZ DEL SUR's goal looked a bit too open when Artur Estrada came free, but Juan Pedro Owen reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. The supporters of CRUZ DEL SUR booed when Vitória StrikerS™ was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 89 match minutes in a wonderful position. Pedro Haaland didn't get a good kick on the ball. Vitória StrikerS™'s La Bolas played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Juan María Maeztu in the 94th minute of play. The CRUZ DEL SUR players were relieved to hear the final whistle blow to end the match. The away crowd was happy to see their team win after a very tight game.