U23 World League

Fortaleza de Progra
Spectators: 7563 (Terracing: 5673, Seating: 1739, VIP seats: 151) The mood of the audience was pleasant when Leonard Chirculescu made the kick off which started today's match. The supporters of Programayin booed when Paralia Athens was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 4 match minutes in a wonderful position. Mircea Robu didn't get a good kick on the ball. The audience thought a goal was coming when Oihan Onis got free with Doru Apostu in the 6th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Santo Careaga made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Leonard Chirculescu in the 9th minute of play. After 12 played minutes Paralia Athens got a freekick which was hit by Luca Tomozei. Lilian Thuram might have been able to make a better finish in the 15th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Doru Apostu. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Lilian Thuram ran back to his position shaking his head. Santo Careaga came out of the goal in the 23rd minute to try and stop a shot by Paralia Athens's Leonard Chirculescu. But to his dismay, Leonard Chirculescu quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 0-1. 29 minutes into the game, Paralia Athens's Gustavo Rosario nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Santo Careaga made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 0-2. 41 minutes into the match, Programayin's goal looked a bit too open when Leonard Chirculescu came free, but Santo Careaga reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. An unexpectedly hard shot by Eguen Catalan in the 43rd minute of play forced Paralia Athens's goalkeeper Doru Apostu to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. After a rather tough play, Paralia Athens's Gustavo Rosario got a free kick in the 45th minute. Luck had favoured the away team in the first, and they walked off with a 0-2 lead.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Luli Amor made a kick off. After 56 minutes, Mircea Robu mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Paralia Athens and the Programayin players grew even worse after the yellow card. Doru Apostu showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Luli Amor in the 58th minute of the match. Programayin's Santo Careaga played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Leonard Chirculescu in the 63rd minute of play. In the 68th minute, Mircea Robu hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Doru Apostu showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Lilian Thuram in the 84th minute of the match. Programayin were awarded a corner in the 86th minute after Paralia Athens's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Michael Pimentel took the corner. A well-hit corner resulted in Eguen Catalan heading the ball towards the goal, but to his dismay he misdirected it and missed the goal completely. After 93 played minutes Leonard Chirculescu rounded Programayin's defense and shot a beautiful shot into goal via left pole - 0-3. The Programayin supporters were disappointed that their team didn't take anything from the match, despite matching Paralia Athens's performance. The match ended with a win for Paralia Athens.