U18 World League

Dan Paltinisanu
Spectators: 7503 (Terracing: 5628, Seating: 1726, VIP seats: 149) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Codrin Remus got the match started through his kick off. Claudiu Azamfirei kicked well hit freekick during the 6th minute of the match. In the 7th minute, Henri-Xavier Justus 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 played minutes Fauna Utd got a freekick which was hit by Gerard Helssen. After a rather tough play, FC Politehnica Timisoara's Pompiliu Pantiș got a free kick in the 15th minute. Lucrețiu Manolache didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Gerard Helssen went, in the 16th minute, to the upper right corner, 0-1 was the resulting score. An unexpectedly hard shot by Gerard Helssen in the 19th minute of play forced FC Politehnica Timisoara's goalkeeper Lucrețiu Manolache to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. After 20 minutes, Gerard Helssen made it 0-2 with a short kick to the right side. FC Politehnica Timisoara's Lucrețiu Manolache tried to save the shot but he was too slow in reacting to the shot. Jan De Geyter made a fantastic save in the 26th minute, when Claudiu Azamfirei sent off a good shot on target. Jonathan Raniers might have been able to make a better finish in the 27th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Lucrețiu Manolache. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Jonathan Raniers ran back to his position shaking his head. Henri-Xavier Justus fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 27th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Lucrețiu Manolache having to interfere. In the 28th match minute, FC Politehnica Timisoara was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Marius Robu to maneuver through the defense. FC Politehnica Timisoara's Lucrețiu Manolache played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Gerard Helssen in the 29th minute of play. 38 minutes into the match, Fauna Utd's goal looked a bit too open when Codrin Remus came free, but Jan De Geyter reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After 43 minutes, Jonathan Raniers mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Fauna Utd and the FC Politehnica Timisoara players grew even worse after the yellow card. Jonathan Raniers hit a great freekick 43 minutes into the match. Jan De Geyter made an important save on a dangerous shot by Nicu Isăilă in the 44th minute. After the first half Fauna Utd were leading 0-2. They had played with great self confidence throughout the first half and fully deserved their lead.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Gerard Helssen stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. In the 53rd minute, Jonathan Raniers made a precise shot to the right of Lucrețiu Manolache. FC Politehnica Timisoara's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 0-3. When the match had gone on for 60 minutes, Gerard Helssen put it in 0-4 from a short distance just to the right of Lucrețiu Manolache. 65 minutes into the match, Nicu Isăilă had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Jan De Geyter. Fauna Utd's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Nicu Isăilă was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 1-4. Gerard Helssen might have been able to make a better finish in the 70th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Lucrețiu Manolache. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Gerard Helssen ran back to his position shaking his head. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Gerard Helssen in the 76th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Lucrețiu Manolache prevented the ball from getting in the gole. 77 minutes into the match, FC Politehnica Timisoara's goalkeeper Lucrețiu Manolache had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Gerard Helssen. 80 minutes into the game, Pompiliu Pantiș cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 2-5. Jan De Geyter was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. 85 minutes into the game, William Geldhof was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Fauna Utd's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave FC Politehnica Timisoara the free kick. William Geldhof kicked well hit freekick during the 85th minute of the match. Codrin Remus struck a weak shot in the 86th minute. Jan De Geyter didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for FC Politehnica Timisoara. A collision led to Fauna Utd getting a freekick after 89 minutes play. Gerard Helssen hit a great ball. Lucrețiu Manolache showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Lenny Massenhove in the 91st minute of the match. Lucrețiu Manolache made a fantastic save in the 96th minute, when Lenny Massenhove sent off a good shot on target. When the final whistle was heard the away supporters stood up and showed their joy. Fauna Utd had managed to secure a win in what was a close match throughout.