U23 World League

The Clapham Oval
Spectators: 7567 (Terracing: 5676, Seating: 1740, VIP seats: 151) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when Cléberson Mendonça kicked off to start the match. Nilmar Brasil took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Ernesto Minichiello, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Ernesto Minichiello sent away a hard shot on goal in the 5th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. The audience was convinced that Ernesto Minichiello's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Nilmar Brasil was relentless in the 8th minute of the game. If João Francisco Toscano had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 13th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Cléberson Mendonça might have been able to make a better finish in the 14th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Armando Polidori. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Cléberson Mendonça ran back to his position shaking his head. In the 15th minute, Alessio Ascoli hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Armando Polidori took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Cléberson Mendonça, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Ernesto Minichiello in the 22nd minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Nilmar Brasil prevented the ball from getting in the gole. When XMAS's Ernesto Minichiello in the 22nd minute got a chance for a shot 22nd didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Clapham Rovers's goalie prevented a goal. 23 minutes had been played when some careless play by Clapham Rovers's defense caused the ball to cross the line for a corner. Ferruccio Cesaroni was slow to take the kick. During this time XMAS's players had a chance to rest. Cléberson Mendonça sent away a hard shot on goal in the 30th minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. XMAS's Armando Polidori played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Cléberson Mendonça in the 30th minute of play. 32 minutes into the game, Malcolm Barkley was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Clapham Rovers's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave XMAS the free kick. The supporters of XMAS booed when Clapham Rovers was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 32 match minutes in a wonderful position. Malcolm Barkley didn't get a good kick on the ball. Malcolm Barkley got his second yellow card in the match during the 36th minute which meant that he had to leave the ground. In the 38th minute, Ferruccio Cesaroni 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. Nilmar Brasil made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Ernesto Minichiello in the 40th minute of play. After some fancy dribbling in the 46th minute, Ernesto Minichiello managed to get in a good position for a shot. XMAS's supporters rose to their feet, but Ernesto Minichiello was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Nilmar Brasil breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. When Ennio De Nardis came up free with the goalie in the 47th minute, the XMAS 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 Ennio De Nardis couldn't finish the play. 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.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Ernesto Minichiello made a kick off. After a rather tough play, XMAS's Concetto Marinucci got a free kick in the 55th minute. Gavin Sedgemore recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 56th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. João Francisco Toscano received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 58th minute. Armando Polidori tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. After a defensive mix-up in XMAS's zone, João Francisco Toscano stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Armando Polidori came out of the goal and João Francisco Toscano tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Ernesto Minichiello in the 65th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Nilmar Brasil prevented the ball from getting in the gole. Nilmar Brasil showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Ernesto Minichiello in the 67th minute of the match. 69 minutes into the match, XMAS's goal looked a bit too open when João Francisco Toscano came free, but Armando Polidori reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. João Francisco Toscano fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 70th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Armando Polidori having to interfere. Armando Polidori showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from João Francisco Toscano in the 73rd minute of the match. In the 78th minute, João Francisco Toscano 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 a defensive mix-up in XMAS's zone, João Francisco Toscano stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Armando Polidori came out of the goal and João Francisco Toscano tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Comunardo Quadrini hit a great freekick 86 minutes into the match. When João Francisco Toscano fell near the penalty area in the 87th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Clapham Rovers's protests and gave João Francisco Toscano a yellow card for diving instead. After a rather tough play, Clapham Rovers's João Francisco Toscano got a free kick in the 87th minute. If João Francisco Toscano had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 91st minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. Nilmar Brasil made an important save on a dangerous shot by Ennio De Nardis in the 92nd minute. Nilmar Brasil stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Ernesto Minichiello's shot from short distance in the 94th minute.