U23 World League

Monumental Guayaquil
Spectators: 7481 (Terracing: 5612, Seating: 1720, VIP seats: 149) Astillero del Guayas's Ulizes Sola 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. Ulizes Sola could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 4th minute of the match, but Theofanis Marinakis made a huge save. Nikos Kalkavouras recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 7th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Fotis Triantafyllopoulos's late challenge caught a Astillero del Guayas's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Fotis Triantafyllopoulos helped the player get up and apologised. Fotis Triantafyllopoulos hit a great freekick 10 minutes into the match. Astillero del Guayas's Walter Huarte played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Fanis Kokkinopoulos in the 13th minute of play. Ulizes Sola came free with the goalkeeper in the 14th minute of the match, and shot straight on target. The shot was a little too simple and Theofanis Marinakis could save by the left post. ΟΦΗ's Theofanis Marinakis played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Ulizes Sola in the 17th minute of play. 23 minutes into the game, Paredes Campderros was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Astillero del Guayas's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave ΟΦΗ the free kick. Paredes Campderros hit a great freekick 23 minutes into the match. After a rather tough play, Astillero del Guayas's Zarando Eguizabal got a free kick in the 25th minute. The supporters of Astillero del Guayas booed when ΟΦΗ was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 25 match minutes in a wonderful position. Fanis Kokkinopoulos didn't get a good kick on the ball. 28 minutes into the match, ΟΦΗ's goal looked a bit too open when Ulizes Sola came free, but Theofanis Marinakis reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. ΟΦΗ's attacker deliberately struck the ball against an opponent to win a corner for his team. The corner was taken by Antonis Papagrigoriou in the 33rd minute. Ulizes Sola's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Theofanis Marinakis read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 38th minute of play. Ulizes Sola could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 44th minute of the match, but Theofanis Marinakis made a huge save. The score stood at 0-0 when the half time whistle went. Both sets of players seemed reasonably pleased with how the match was going.

The wind increased when Nikos Kalkavouras made the kick off in the second half. An unexpectedly hard shot by Dani Galiana in the 51st minute of play forced ΟΦΗ's goalkeeper Theofanis Marinakis to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Babbis Prokos hit a great freekick 51 minutes into the match. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Nikos Kalkavouras in the 55th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Walter Huarte prevented the ball from getting in the gole. In the 58th minute Dani Galiana shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Theofanis Marinakis saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Theofanis Marinakis took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Ulizes Sola, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. After some careless play in the ΟΦΗ defense, Pablo-Enrique Oneca kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Theofanis Marinakis. The ΟΦΗ fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Theofanis Marinakis should have stopped the shot. Theofanis Marinakis took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Dani Galiana, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Dani Galiana kicked well hit freekick during the 75th minute of the match. When ΟΦΗ's Nikos Kalkavouras in the 76th minute got a chance for a shot 76th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Astillero del Guayas's goalie prevented a goal. After a rather tough play, ΟΦΗ's Sakis Velakoglou got a free kick in the 77th minute. Fotis Triantafyllopoulos got his second yellow card in the match during the 82nd minute which meant that he had to leave the ground. Fotis Triantafyllopoulos kicked well hit freekick during the 83rd minute of the match. Giannis Tzanetos sent away a hard shot on goal in the 87th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. An unexpectedly hard shot by Fanis Kokkinopoulos in the 90th minute of play forced Astillero del Guayas's goalkeeper Walter Huarte to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Ulizes Sola in the 93rd managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Theofanis Marinakis saved ΟΦΗ from getting behind. A collision led to ΟΦΗ getting a freekick after 93 minutes play. Nikos Kalkavouras hit a great ball. Paredes Campderros fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 94th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Theofanis Marinakis having to interfere. ΟΦΗ's players left the field with heads hung low after losing a match that had been finely balanced throughout.