U23 World League

Ricardo E. Bochini
Spectators: 7579 (Terracing: 5685, Seating: 1743, VIP seats: 151) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when Honorato Soveral kicked off to start the match. The supporters of Gorgory booed when Rossoneri XI was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 3 match minutes in a wonderful position. Hans Tidén didn't get a good kick on the ball. Andy Berg made a fantastic save in the 5th minute, when Elroy Snijders sent off a good shot on target. In the 11th minute, Gorgory's Paulino Araoz ran free of his marker and smoothly shot the ball into the goal behind Andy Berg. Andy Berg yelled at his defense, as they had left him out to dry. 1-0. 20 minutes into the match, Paulino Araoz had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Andy Berg. Rossoneri XI's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Paulino Araoz was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 2-0. Elroy Snijders charged in rather forcefully in the 27th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Elroy Snijders the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. After 27 played minutes Gorgory got a freekick which was hit by Elroy Snijders. Andy Berg showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Paulino Araoz in the 36th minute of the match. If Honorato Soveral had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 37th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. No-one was surprised that the home team were leading 2-0 at half-time.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Paulino Araoz to strike the kick off in the second half. The crowd rose to their feet as Rossoneri XI's Honorato Soveral slotted home a wonderful shot that went in to the left of Bernardino Raulo. That made the score 2-1 after 52 minutes of play. In the 55th minute, Honorato Soveral reached a very good position and smashed the ball with a huge effort into the net, just to the left of Bernardino Raulo. The goal made the score 2-2. The audience was convinced that Honorato Soveral's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Bernardino Raulo was relentless in the 58th minute of the game. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Hans Tidén in the 69th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Bernardino Raulo prevented the ball from getting in the gole. Bernardino Raulo made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Honorato Soveral in the 71st minute of play. After having played for 72 minutes, Paulino Araoz managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Gorgory's supporters crossed their fingers, but Paulino Araoz was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Gorgory's Patricio Beturian was substituted for Oscar Jaume. If Tiburcio Karlo had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 75th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Oden Torsson sent away a hard shot on goal in the 78th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Andy Berg made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Elroy Snijders in the 80th minute of play. An unexpectedly hard shot by Tiburcio Karlo in the 86th minute of play forced Rossoneri XI's goalkeeper Andy Berg to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Elroy Snijders fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 90th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Andy Berg having to interfere. If Tiburcio Karlo had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 96th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Jeers came from both ends of the stadium when the final whistle went. Neither team had looked impressive and the draw seeemd a fair result.