U23 World League

Juan F. Barraza
Spectators: 7499 (Terracing: 5625, Seating: 1725, VIP seats: 149) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Libardo Fuentes started the match with the kick off. Ernest Cazimir made a fantastic save in the 2nd minute, when Libardo Fuentes sent off a good shot on target. 3 minutes into the game, Dumitru Miron was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Simared -MM-'s manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Club Deportivo Águila the free kick. After a rather tough play, Simared -MM-'s Dumitru Miron got a free kick in the 3rd minute. In the 8th minute, Narcis Dragalina got an opportunity to score, but he didn't get a solid hit on the ball and ended up kicking it wide of the goal. After 11 minutes of play, Club Deportivo Águila's Libardo Fuentes made it 1-0 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Ernest Cazimir was left in no man's land by his defense there! Gheorghe Şerbănoiu sent away a hard shot on goal in the 14th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. In the 15th match minute, Club Deportivo Águila was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Baltazar Del Cid to maneuver through the defense. Ernest Cazimir showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Baltazar Del Cid in the 17th minute of the match. Narcis Dragalina took the ball and in the 24 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Ricardo Peña. Ricardo Peña dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 1-1. Club Deportivo Águila's Baltazar Del Cid was first on the ball when the corner was shot and he dangerously headed the ball towards goal, but Ernest Cazimir in the goal jumped up to prevent it from getting in. Ernest Cazimir made a fantastic save in the 31st minute, when Ismael Peña sent off a good shot on target. Gheorghe Şerbănoiu fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 36th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Ricardo Peña having to interfere. A collision led to Simared -MM- getting a freekick after 37 minutes play. Dumitru Miron hit a great ball. In the 39th minute, Baltazar Del Cid hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. After taking down the ball on Simared -MM-'s corner Constantin Udubaşa fired away a hard shot, but the defenders efficiently covered the most dangerous angles and Ricardo Peña quite easily take care of the ball. Virgil Dulgherescu kicked well hit freekick during the 45th minute of the match. Ricardo Peña stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Nicodim Codrea's shot from short distance in the 48th minute. The first half was very even, with the score at 1-1 when the whistle went for half-time. The players welcomed the break and quickly retired to the dressing rooms.

The wind increased when Narcis Dragalina made the kick off in the second half. A collision led to Simared -MM- getting a freekick after 59 minutes play. Virgil Dulgherescu hit a great ball. Ernest Cazimir stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Libardo Fuentes's shot from short distance in the 60th minute. Dumitru Miron fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 62nd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Ricardo Peña having to interfere. 66 minutes into the match, Simared -MM-'s goal looked a bit too open when Libardo Fuentes came free, but Ernest Cazimir reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Narcis Dragalina in the 69th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Ricardo Peña prevented the ball from getting in the gole. Club Deportivo Águila's Ricardo Peña played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Gheorghe Şerbănoiu in the 74th minute of play. An unexpectedly hard shot by Libardo Fuentes in the 76th minute of play forced Simared -MM-'s goalkeeper Ernest Cazimir to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Simared -MM- made a substitution. Silviu Miron replaced Constantin Udubaşa. Simared -MM- made a substitution. Ernest Enoaia replaced Dumitru Miron. The audience thought a goal was coming when Narcis Dragalina got free with Ricardo Peña in the 81st minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Club Deportivo Águila's Ricardo Peña proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 83rd minute of the match, managed to save Club Deportivo Águila from getting a goal against them. Gheorghe Şerbănoiu struck a weak shot in the 85th minute. Ricardo Peña didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Simared -MM-. Simared -MM-'s Narcis Dragalina got a good chance for a goal in the 89th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. 91 minutes into the match, Club Deportivo Águila's goal looked a bit too open when Gheorghe Şerbănoiu came free, but Ricardo Peña reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 92nd minute, Narcis Dragalina left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The Simared -MM- fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 1-2. The audience thought a goal was coming when Nicodim Codrea got free with Ricardo Peña in the 96th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. The Simared -MM- supporters could be heard counting down the last seconds of the match. They errupted in celebration when the whistle blew, knowing Simared -MM- would go home with victory in their luggage after a match that easily could have ended differently.