U23 World League

Arnulfo Iraido
Spectators: 7541 (Terracing: 5657, 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. Osvaldo Oihan started the match with the kick off. After 2 minutes of play, Toutourouki f.c.'s Gerasimos Kalonis made it 0-1 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Cristo Elivareo was left in no man's land by his defense there! A collision led to Toutourouki f.c. getting a freekick after 5 minutes play. Leonidas Lithopoulos hit a great ball. Tolis Mantouvalos made an important save on a dangerous shot by Samuel Bembe in the 8th minute. Giorgos Kazatzidis hit a great freekick 11 minutes into the match. Saturnino Leobardo charged in rather forcefully in the 12th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Saturnino Leobardo the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. A collision led to Barrialito AFC getting a freekick after 12 minutes play. Saturnino Leobardo hit a great ball. A collision led to Toutourouki f.c. getting a freekick after 15 minutes play. Giorgos Kazatzidis hit a great ball. Tolis Mantouvalos showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Jaime Garikoitz in the 18th minute of the match. Amancio Abreu charged in rather forcefully in the 19th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Amancio Abreu the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. With a little luck, Toutourouki f.c.'s Tolis Mantouvalos got control of the ball when Saturnino Leobardo tried to sneak it across the goal line. After a rather tough play, Toutourouki f.c.'s Makis Iosifakos got a free kick in the 24th minute. In the 26th minute, Barrialito AFC's Osvaldo Oihan ran free of his marker and smoothly shot the ball into the goal behind Tolis Mantouvalos. Tolis Mantouvalos yelled at his defense, as they had left him out to dry. 1-1. Cristo Elivareo showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Vrasidas Liouras, who was totally free with the ball in the 30th minute. In the 31st minute Toutourouki f.c. were awarded a corner. Giorgos Kazatzidis went to the cornerflag to take it. After having played for 34 minutes, Osvaldo Oihan managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Barrialito AFC's supporters crossed their fingers, but Osvaldo Oihan was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. 38 minutes into the game, Barrialito AFC's Samuel Bembe nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Tolis Mantouvalos made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 2-1. Tolis Mantouvalos took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Osvaldo Oihan, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. 45 minutes into the game, Osvaldo Oihan recieved a splendid long ball, split the defenders, and gently placed the ball to the left of Tolis Mantouvalos. Osvaldo Oihan showed that you don't have to tear a hole in the net to score, 3-1. The home fans were very happy to see their team leading 3-1 at half-time.

Toutourouki f.c.'s Tolis Mantouvalos played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Jaime Garikoitz in the 54th minute of play. After 58 minutes of play, Barrialito AFC's Samuel Bembe made it 5-1 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Tolis Mantouvalos was left in no man's land by his defense there! Tolis Mantouvalos made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Osvaldo Oihan in the 61st minute of play. An unexpectedly hard shot by Jaime Garikoitz in the 66th minute of play forced Toutourouki f.c.'s goalkeeper Tolis Mantouvalos to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. The corner led Barrialito AFC's Arturo Montrel to fire away a dangerous shot which Tolis Mantouvalos despite some difficulties managed to get hold on the ball. Barrialito AFC's Jaime Garikoitz got a good chance for a goal in the 69th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Cristo Elivareo took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Vrasidas Liouras, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. With a little luck, Barrialito AFC's Cristo Elivareo got control of the ball when Faris Seng tried to sneak it across the goal line. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Vrasidas Liouras in the 81st managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Cristo Elivareo saved Barrialito AFC from getting behind. After some fancy dribbling in the 89th minute, Samuel Bembe managed to get in a good position for a shot. Barrialito AFC's supporters rose to their feet, but Samuel Bembe was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Tolis Mantouvalos breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. The referee felt a red card was in order, 92 minutes into the game, when Panos Zablakos put in a rough tackle. 93 minutes into the match, Arturo Montrel had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Tolis Mantouvalos. Toutourouki f.c.'s manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Arturo Montrel was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 6-1. Toutourouki f.c.'s Tolis Mantouvalos played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Jaime Garikoitz in the 96th minute of play. Barrialito AFC's fans were exulted and cheered after their team won in a match that could easily have gone the other way.