U23 World League

Hippo Pool
Spectators: 7528 (Terracing: 5647, Seating: 1731, VIP seats: 150) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Jotautas Bakštys took the kick off in the first half of the match. In the 3rd minute, Cristiano Falone had to be helped off the field due to a pulled leg muscle. When Deividas Laužikas fell near the penalty area in the 3rd minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Savage Hippo's protests and gave Deividas Laužikas a yellow card for diving instead. Acilia Town made a substitution. Camillo Verdini replaced Cristiano Falone. Deividas Laužikas hit a great freekick 5 minutes into the match. Acilia Town's Beppe Scannella played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Jotautas Bakštys in the 9th minute of play. Beppe Scannella showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Alfredas Klenkys in the 10th minute of the match. Alfredas Klenkys came free with the goalkeeper in the 12th minute of the match, and shot straight on target. The shot was a little too simple and Beppe Scannella could save by the left post. Alfredas Klenkys who was well placed in front of the goal fired away a dangerous shot that in the 14thth minute tested the skills of Beppe Scannella when he managed to save the team from getting behind. 16 minutes into the match, Acilia Town's goal looked a bit too open when Jotautas Bakštys came free, but Beppe Scannella reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. 17 minutes into the match, Acilia Town's goal looked a bit too open when Jotautas Bakštys came free, but Beppe Scannella reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. An unexpectedly hard shot by Alberto Diana in the 19th minute of play forced Savage Hippo's goalkeeper Naglis Jonušas to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Savage Hippo's Eduardas Girčius shoveled away a really nice long shot in the 22nd minute of play. The shot was stopped by Beppe Scannella but with some difficulty. Aurelio Corvasce hit a great freekick 22 minutes into the match. In the 26th minute of the match, Alfredas Klenkys got a very nice opportunity to score, but Beppe Scannella was well-placed and pushed the ball away from the goal at the left post. 27 minutes into the game, Deividas Laužikas recieved a splendid long ball, split the defenders, and gently placed the ball to the left of Beppe Scannella. Deividas Laužikas showed that you don't have to tear a hole in the net to score, 1-0. Beppe Scannella showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Jotautas Bakštys, who was totally free with the ball in the 33rd minute. 34 minutes into the match, Acilia Town's goal looked a bit too open when Dangiras Rutkus came free, but Beppe Scannella reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After a defensive mix-up in Acilia Town's zone, Alfredas Klenkys stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Beppe Scannella came out of the goal and Alfredas Klenkys tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. In the 38th minute, Savage Hippo's Jotautas Bakštys ran free of his marker and smoothly shot the ball into the goal behind Beppe Scannella. Beppe Scannella yelled at his defense, as they had left him out to dry. 2-0. An unexpectedly hard shot by Jotautas Bakštys in the 44th minute of play forced Acilia Town's goalkeeper Beppe Scannella to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Beppe Scannella made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Dangiras Rutkus in the 47th minute of play. The supporters of Savage Hippo booed when Acilia Town was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 47 match minutes in a wonderful position. Armando Villa didn't get a good kick on the ball. After a rather tough play, Acilia Town's Armando Villa got a free kick in the 49th minute.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Alessandro Checchia was the one to do the kick off. If Dangiras Rutkus had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 54th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. 57 minutes into the match, Jotautas Bakštys had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Beppe Scannella. Acilia Town's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Jotautas Bakštys was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 3-0. 60 minutes into the match, Acilia Town's goal looked a bit too open when Alfredas Klenkys came free, but Beppe Scannella reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After 69 minutes Acilia Town's defender was forced to head the ball over the line for a corner. It was Eduardas Girčius who took care of the corner kick. Savage Hippo's Eduardas Girčius was first on the ball when the corner was shot and he dangerously headed the ball towards goal, but Beppe Scannella in the goal jumped up to prevent it from getting in. When Alfredas Klenkys fell near the penalty area in the 73rd minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Savage Hippo's protests and gave Alfredas Klenkys a yellow card for diving instead. In the 73rd match minute, Savage Hippo was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Alfredas Klenkys to maneuver through the defense. Alberto Diana received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 74th minute. Naglis Jonušas tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Beppe Scannella didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Dangiras Rutkus went, in the 76th minute, to the upper right corner, 4-0 was the resulting score. With his leg Naglis Jonušas managed to avoid a goal in the 82ndth minute, when Acilia Town's Alberto Diana fired away a shot with a lot of spin towards his right hand side. After some fancy dribbling in the 94th minute, Alfredas Klenkys managed to get in a good position for a shot. Savage Hippo's supporters rose to their feet, but Alfredas Klenkys was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Beppe Scannella breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick.