U18 World League

Dan Paltinisanu
Spectators: 7455 (Terracing: 5592, Seating: 1714, VIP seats: 149) FC Politehnica Timisoara's Nichifor Borogeanu started the match with a crisp pass. The crowd had been anticipating this game for weeks and the excitement in the stadium was easily visible. In the 5th minute Nichifor Borogeanu shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Ladislao Tonete saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Lucrețiu Manolache didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Anibal Hegoi went, in the 9th minute, to the upper right corner, 0-1 was the resulting score. Ladislao Tonete made an important save on a dangerous shot by Nichifor Borogeanu in the 19th minute. After 20 minutes of play, FC Politehnica Timisoara's Nicu Isăilă made it 2-1 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Ladislao Tonete was left in no man's land by his defense there! PLASNIKE's Ladislao Tonete played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Pompiliu Pantiș in the 24th minute of play. 25 minutes into the match, PLASNIKE's goal looked a bit too open when Nichifor Borogeanu came free, but Ladislao Tonete reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Gualterio Estebano hit a great freekick 28 minutes into the match. Ladislao Tonete made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Nichifor Borogeanu in the 33rd minute of play. When Augusto Rubio came up free with the goalie in the 36th minute, the PLASNIKE 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 Augusto Rubio couldn't finish the play. Anibal Hegoi received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 38th minute. Lucrețiu Manolache tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Anibal Hegoi sent away a hard shot on goal in the 41st minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After some fancy dribbling in the 43rd minute, Gualterio Estebano managed to get in a good position for a shot. PLASNIKE's supporters rose to their feet, but Gualterio Estebano was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Lucrețiu Manolache breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. 45 minutes into the game, Ricardo Herauso cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 2-2. Lucrețiu Manolache was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. The first half was very even, with the score at 2-2 when the whistle went for half-time. The players welcomed the break and quickly retired to the dressing rooms.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Gualterio Estebano was the one to do the kick off. The supporters of FC Politehnica Timisoara booed when PLASNIKE was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 50 match minutes in a wonderful position. Gualterio Estebano didn't get a good kick on the ball. Gualterio Estebano received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 53rd minute. Lucrețiu Manolache tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. The audience thought a goal was coming when Gualterio Estebano got free with Lucrețiu Manolache in the 55th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. PLASNIKE's Ladislao Tonete played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Nichifor Borogeanu in the 56th minute of play. Anibal Hegoi could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 57th minute of the match, but Lucrețiu Manolache made a huge save. An unexpectedly hard shot by Pompiliu Pantiș in the 60th minute of play forced PLASNIKE's goalkeeper Ladislao Tonete to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. If Anibal Hegoi had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 62nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Ladislao Tonete showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Claudiu Azamfirei, who was totally free with the ball in the 65th minute. Gonzalo Eleazar kicked well hit freekick during the 66th minute of the match. In the 70th minute Pompiliu Pantiș shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Ladislao Tonete saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. 71 minutes into the match, Ricardo Herauso dribbled the ball past the defender and swiftly kicked the ball to the left of Lucrețiu Manolache, 2-3. When Anibal Hegoi fell near the penalty area in the 74th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored PLASNIKE's protests and gave Anibal Hegoi a yellow card for diving instead. In the 74th match minute, PLASNIKE was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Anibal Hegoi to maneuver through the defense. Gualterio Estebano sent away a hard shot on goal in the 78th minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. In the 79th minute, Nicanor Odilon hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Ricardo Herauso kicked well hit freekick during the 83rd minute of the match. Nichifor Borogeanu took the ball and in the 85 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Ladislao Tonete. Ladislao Tonete dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 3-3. In the 94th match minute, PLASNIKE was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Fernan Rafe to maneuver through the defense. 95 minutes into the match, PLASNIKE's goal looked a bit too open when Nichifor Borogeanu came free, but Ladislao Tonete reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. PLASNIKE's players left the field with heads hung low after losing a match that had been finely balanced throughout.