U23 World League

Phoenix Field
Spectators: 7462 (Terracing: 5597, Seating: 1716, VIP seats: 149) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Volodymyr Ovcharenko started the match with the kick off. 5 minutes into the match, Ionuț Romeo notched a goal, 1-0, to the right of FC Vershina ESPN's Artem Gordya. Artem Gordya was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. After a rather tough play, Phoenix Strikers's Ionuț Romeo got a free kick in the 8th minute. A collision led to FC Vershina ESPN getting a freekick after 15 minutes play. Kyrylo Krohmal hit a great ball. Artem Gordya made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Ionuț Romeo in the 16th minute of play. Ionel Panaitoiu showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Olexiy Bykaniv, who was totally free with the ball in the 19th minute. FC Vershina ESPN's Volodymyr Ovcharenko got a good chance for a goal in the 20th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. After 21 played minutes Phoenix Strikers got a freekick which was hit by Mauricio Quentin. Ionel Panaitoiu took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Volodymyr Ovcharenko, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. The FC Vershina ESPN fans' excitement grew in the 33rd match minute when FC Vershina ESPN's Volodymyr Ovcharenko looked to have a clear shot with the ball near the goal. The shot wasn't hard, but the ball still rolled over the goal line to make it 1-1 before the goalkeeper had a chance to intervene. When Ionuț Romeo fell near the penalty area in the 36th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Phoenix Strikers's protests and gave Ionuț Romeo a yellow card for diving instead. After a rather tough play, Phoenix Strikers's Ionuț Romeo got a free kick in the 36th minute. In the 36th minute the ball was on its way in behind Phoenix Strikers's goalkeeper Ionel Panaitoiu, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. If Volodymyr Ovcharenko had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 38th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Olexiy Bykaniv sent away a hard shot on goal in the 45th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. The score stood at 1-1 when the half time whistle went. Both sets of players seemed reasonably pleased with how the match was going.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Pavel Haaland to strike the kick off in the second half. In the 51st minute, Pavel Haaland ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Artem Gordya was frozen by the shot and now it was 2-1. Horaţiu Dinulescu kicked well hit freekick during the 53rd minute of the match. Artem Gordya stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Pavel Haaland's shot from short distance in the 58th minute. Artem Gordya stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Pavel Haaland's shot from short distance in the 58th minute. In the 65th match minute, Phoenix Strikers was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Ionuț Romeo to maneuver through the defense. After some careless play in the FC Vershina ESPN defense, Ionuț Romeo kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Artem Gordya. The FC Vershina ESPN fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Artem Gordya should have stopped the shot. In the 71st minute, Pavel Haaland 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. In the 73rd minute, Eduard Boroș hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. After some fancy dribbling in the 73rd minute, Volodymyr Ovcharenko managed to get in a good position for a shot. FC Vershina ESPN's supporters rose to their feet, but Volodymyr Ovcharenko was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Ionel Panaitoiu breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Artem Gordya showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Horaţiu Dinulescu in the 77th minute of the match. With his leg Ionel Panaitoiu managed to avoid a goal in the 80thth minute, when FC Vershina ESPN's Olexiy Bykaniv fired away a shot with a lot of spin towards his right hand side. FC Vershina ESPN's Olexiy Bykaniv managed to work through Phoenix Strikers's defense and was going for an easy goal, but he hit the shot with his toe and the ball flew outside the goal. Olexiy Bykaniv dejectedly held out his arms as if to ask why the ball hadn't gone in. In the 85th minute, Pavel Haaland hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Volodymyr Ovcharenko in the 86th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Ionel Panaitoiu prevented the ball from getting in the gole. Anatoliy Konyushenko kicked well hit freekick during the 87th minute of the match. The supporters of FC Vershina ESPN booed when Phoenix Strikers was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 89 match minutes in a wonderful position. Valeriu Ungur didn't get a good kick on the ball. After a rather tough play, Phoenix Strikers's Ion Africano got a free kick in the 92nd minute. Phoenix Strikers were really happy, having secured the victory after a very even contest. They thanked the players of FC Vershina ESPN for a fine match.