World League

Ibarsusi Stadium
Spectators: 7456 (Terracing: 5593, Seating: 1714, VIP seats: 149) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Liberto Merino got the match started through his kick off. If Gav Smith had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 4th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. Gav Smith came free with the goalkeeper in the 4th minute of the match, and shot straight on target. The shot was a little too simple and Federico Checa could save by the left post. After having played for 9 minutes, Julio Domeka managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Depor Alex Return's supporters crossed their fingers, but Julio Domeka was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. 11 minutes into the match, Jony Maidana had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Mikolaj Grunwalski. Spartak de Txurdi's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Jony Maidana was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 0-1. Mikolaj Grunwalski took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Julio Domeka, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 27th minute, Gav Smith 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. In the 31st minute Julio Domeka shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Mikolaj Grunwalski saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. The supporters of Spartak de Txurdi booed when Depor Alex Return was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 33 match minutes in a wonderful position. Jony Maidana didn't get a good kick on the ball. The audience was convinced that Gav Smith's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Federico Checa was relentless in the 36th minute of the game. After a rather tough play, Depor Alex Return's Teofilo Cordeara got a free kick in the 39th minute. Federico Checa stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Gav Smith's shot from short distance in the 41st minute. A collision led to Depor Alex Return getting a freekick after 43 minutes play. Teofilo Cordeara hit a great ball. A collision led to Spartak de Txurdi getting a freekick after 45 minutes play. Raymond Kalla hit a great ball. After the first half Depor Alex Return were leading 0-1. They had played with great self confidence throughout the first half and fully deserved their lead.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Armando Baraquiel made a kick off. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Jony Maidana in the 53rd managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Mikolaj Grunwalski saved Spartak de Txurdi from getting behind. Federico Checa made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Horacio Hernandez in the 57th minute of play. Laureano Olayo's shot straight on target was not completely harmless. The ball had pretty good speed, but Mikolaj Grunwalski firmly grabbed it by the left post. After a rather tough play, Depor Alex Return's Teofilo Cordeara got a free kick in the 61st minute. Liberto Merino sent away a hard shot on goal in the 63rd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Gav Smith took the ball and in the 64 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Federico Checa. Federico Checa 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. An unexpectedly hard shot by Jony Maidana in the 73rd minute of play forced Spartak de Txurdi's goalkeeper Mikolaj Grunwalski to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 81st minute, Liberto Merino left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The Spartak de Txurdi fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 2-1. Spartak de Txurdi's Regis Jaen was substituted for Evelio Senin. Federico Checa took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Gav Smith, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Tomas Santo hit a great freekick 91 minutes into the match. Depor Alex Return's Teofilo Cordeara got his second yellow card of the match in the 95th minute. The referee ordered Teofilo Cordeara off the ground. After 95 played minutes Depor Alex Return got a freekick which was hit by Teofilo Cordeara. Depor Alex Return's supporters were dissatisfied at the end of the match because Spartak de Txurdi had won, even though Depor Alex Return had held more of the ball.