U18 World League

Phoenix Field
Spectators: 7459 (Terracing: 5595, Seating: 1715, VIP seats: 149) Don Verga hit a great freekick 8 minutes into the match. Xaven Madama took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Nistor Curcă, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. After 18 played minutes Phoenix Strikers got a freekick which was hit by Cazimir Ceaușu. After a rather tough play, PAJARRACO FC's Pablo-Enrique Raon got a free kick in the 19th minute. Xaven Madama was a little too slow when Marin Pietreanu got a fine hit on the ball which went right into the goal in the 22nd minute. The score was now 1-0. Xaven Madama showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Nistor Curcă, who was totally free with the ball in the 26th minute. In the 30th minute, Nistor Curcă 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. When Valerio Ezquierdo came up free with the goalie in the 32nd minute, the PAJARRACO FC 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 Valerio Ezquierdo couldn't finish the play. In the 33rd minute, Nistor Curcă 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. A hard shot 35 in the game by Marin Pietreanu from a close distance when the talented Xaven Madama managed to make a qualified save. PAJARRACO FC's players were relieved. In the 38th minute Nistor Curcă shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Xaven Madama saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Xan Ben during the 42nd minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. Xan Ben hit a great freekick 42 minutes into the match. An unexpectedly hard shot by Cazimir Ceaușu in the 44th minute of play forced PAJARRACO FC's goalkeeper Xaven Madama to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. After having played for 47 minutes, Valerio Ezquierdo managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. PAJARRACO FC's supporters crossed their fingers, but Valerio Ezquierdo was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Af the end of the first half the score was 1-0. The first half had gone as expected for the home team.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Enrique Azuela to make the kick off. PAJARRACO FC's Reynaldo Cueto pulled a muscle in his leg after 51 minutes and couldn't finish the game. Anton Păun hit a great freekick 52 minutes into the match. 53 minutes into the match, Valerio Ezquierdo had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Isac Spirea. Phoenix Strikers's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Valerio Ezquierdo was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 1-1. In the 57th match minute, PAJARRACO FC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Xan Ben to maneuver through the defense. Valerio Ezquierdo could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 63rd minute of the match, but Isac Spirea made a huge save. Valerio Ezquierdo recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 68th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. In the 72nd minute, Nistor Curcă left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The Phoenix Strikers fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 2-1. Valerio Ezquierdo sent away a hard shot on goal in the 80th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. 83 minutes into the match, Phoenix Strikers's goal looked a bit too open when Jerson Santome came free, but Isac Spirea reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Jerson Santome recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 85th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. If Marin Pietreanu had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 86th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Aristide Pârlea kicked well hit freekick during the 88th minute of the match. Valerio Ezquierdo could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 93rd minute of the match, but Isac Spirea made a huge save.