Friendly League

Old Trafford
Spectators: 40 (Terracing: 31, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when Bo Lange kicked off to start the match. Fredric Holmberg made a fantastic save in the 3rd minute, when Eustacio Astrada sent off a good shot on target. The throw-in from Emran Akçay in the 6th minute of the game was unfortunally taken care of by Aston Villa FC's Alf Ståhlman. A collision led to Aston Villa FC getting a freekick after 6 minutes play. Alf Ståhlman hit a great ball. Stavros Keratomenos's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Fredric Holmberg read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 9th minute of play. In the 10th minute Crusaders were awarded a corner. Humphrey Virgin went to the cornerflag to take it. In the 12th minute, Crusaders's Eustacio Astrada ran free of his marker and smoothly shot the ball into the goal behind Fredric Holmberg. Fredric Holmberg yelled at his defense, as they had left him out to dry. 1-0. A sloppy throw-in by Emran Akçay in the 15th minute of the game went astray and was snapped up by Aston Villa FC's Alf Ståhlman. 16 minutes into the game, Aston Villa FC's Bo Lange nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Ernest Paddle made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 1-1. Aston Villa FC's Fredric Holmberg proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 19th minute of the match, managed to save Aston Villa FC from getting a goal against them. After 20 minutes, Eustacio Astrada made it 2-1 with a short kick to the right side. Aston Villa FC's Fredric Holmberg tried to save the shot but he was too slow in reacting to the shot. When Crusaders's Humphrey Virgin in the 23rd minute got a chance for a shot 23rd didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Aston Villa FC's goalie prevented a goal. With a little luck, Aston Villa FC's Fredric Holmberg got control of the ball when Eustacio Astrada tried to sneak it across the goal line. Aston Villa FC's Fredric Holmberg played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Todd Morrison in the 29th minute of play. Eustacio Astrada's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Fredric Holmberg read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 31st minute of play. 32 minutes had been played when some careless play by Aston Villa FC's defense caused the ball to cross the line for a corner. Humphrey Virgin was slow to take the kick. During this time Crusaders's players had a chance to rest. With his leg Fredric Holmberg managed to avoid a goal in the 36thth minute, when Crusaders's Eustacio Astrada fired away a shot with a lot of spin towards his right hand side. Fredric Holmberg showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Todd Morrison in the 37th minute of the match. Reine Kvist hit a great freekick 37 minutes into the match. After 41 played minutes Aston Villa FC got a freekick which was hit by Reine Kvist. After 43 minutes of play, Aston Villa FC's Bo Lange made it 2-2 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Ernest Paddle was left in no man's land by his defense there! 46 minutes into the game, Aston Villa FC's Matthias Askberg nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Ernest Paddle made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 2-3.

The wind increased when Humphrey Virgin made the kick off in the second half. Aston Villa FC's Fredric Holmberg played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Eustacio Astrada in the 55th minute of play. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Humphrey Virgin in the 58th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Fredric Holmberg saved Aston Villa FC from getting behind. Abel Alonso charged in rather forcefully in the 59th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Abel Alonso the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. Abel Alonso hit a great freekick 59 minutes into the match. 62 minutes into the game, Crusaders's Suavi Turhan nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Fredric Holmberg made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 4-3. Crusaders's Nath Hislop was substituted for Todd Morrison. The audience was convinced that Eustacio Astrada's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Fredric Holmberg was relentless in the 65th minute of the game. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Eustacio Astrada in the 66th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Fredric Holmberg prevented the ball from getting in the gole. Fredric Holmberg took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Eustacio Astrada, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 74th minute Bo Lange shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Ernest Paddle saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. 76 minutes into the match, Aston Villa FC's goal looked a bit too open when Nath Hislop came free, but Fredric Holmberg reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. 77 minutes into the match, Humphrey Virgin had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Fredric Holmberg. Aston Villa FC's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Humphrey Virgin was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 5-3. Matthias Askberg sent away a hard shot on goal in the 82nd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Bo Lange recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 86th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. In the 87th minute, Roy Keane hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Fredric Holmberg stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Stavros Keratomenos's shot from short distance in the 91st minute. Kjell-Arne Kjellbom's late challenge caught a Crusaders's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Kjell-Arne Kjellbom helped the player get up and apologised. Crusaders's supporters were highly satisfied with the result. They cheered their team of the pitch, having watched them win a very even match.