U23 World League

Arena das Cavernas
Spectators: 7543 (Terracing: 5659, Seating: 1734, VIP seats: 150) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Marcus Pollard started the match with the kick off. In the 5th match minute, Austra 04 VFC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Rubens Teles to maneuver through the defense. After a rather tough play, Austra 04 VFC's Kit Vire got a free kick in the 7th minute. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Nicola Zalewski in the 9th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Kitt Pegov prevented the ball from getting in the gole. After a rather tough play, Austra 04 VFC's Pedro Pancareken got a free kick in the 10th minute. 13 minutes into the match, Austra 04 VFC's goal looked a bit too open when Nicola Zalewski came free, but Kitt Pegov reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 14th match minute, Mauro was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Stefan Lundblad to maneuver through the defense. After a defensive mix-up in Mauro's zone, Rubens Teles stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Lu Hong Qiang came out of the goal and Rubens Teles tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Kitt Pegov didn't succeed to prevent the ball from going into goal when Mauro's Islam Slimani shot an unexpected shot in the crossbar's under edge and made 0-1 in the ordered_time% minute. Teofil Bara kicked well hit freekick during the 24th minute of the match. The audience thought a goal was coming when Marcus Pollard got free with Lu Hong Qiang in the 28th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. After a rather tough play, Mauro's Wawrzyniec Bara got a free kick in the 32nd minute. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Marcus Pollard in the 33rd managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Lu Hong Qiang saved Mauro from getting behind. Lu Hong Qiang made a fantastic save in the 39th minute, when Marcus Pollard sent off a good shot on target. Kit Vire kicked well hit freekick during the 40th minute of the match. Lu Hong Qiang showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Marcus Pollard, who was totally free with the ball in the 42nd minute. In the 44th minute Nicola Zalewski shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Kitt Pegov saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. After fighting hard for a draw in the first half, the players were able to take a much needed rest.

Kitt Pegov made an important save on a dangerous shot by Islam Slimani in the 52nd minute. When João Zonta fell near the penalty area in the 53rd minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Austra 04 VFC's protests and gave João Zonta a yellow card for diving instead. The supporters of Mauro booed when Austra 04 VFC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 53 match minutes in a wonderful position. João Zonta didn't get a good kick on the ball. The crowd rose to their feet as Mauro's Nicola Zalewski slotted home a wonderful shot that went in to the left of Kitt Pegov. That made the score 1-2 after 57 minutes of play. When Nicola Zalewski came up free with the goalie in the 65th minute, the Mauro 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 Nicola Zalewski couldn't finish the play. Austra 04 VFC made a substitution. Rony Nunes replaced Kit Vire. After a rather tough play, Austra 04 VFC's Joaquim Batista got a free kick in the 77th minute. Austra 04 VFC's Kitt Pegov played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Nicola Zalewski in the 78th minute of play. When João Zonta was, once again, overly rough in his play he received his second yellow card and was ordered off the ground. 79 minutes had been played. João Zonta hit a great freekick 79 minutes into the match. After 81 played minutes Austra 04 VFC got a freekick which was hit by Nuno Severo. In the 84th minute Islam Slimani shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Kitt Pegov saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. 92 minutes into the match, Austra 04 VFC's goal looked a bit too open when Nicola Zalewski came free, but Kitt Pegov reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. 93 minutes into the match, Mauro's goal looked a bit too open when Rony Nunes came free, but Lu Hong Qiang reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line.