U18 World League

Parada do Exército
Spectators: 7592 (Terracing: 5695, Seating: 1746, VIP seats: 151) Merceron United's Carlo Mandelli 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. 6 minutes into the game, Israel Correia recieved a splendid long ball, split the defenders, and gently placed the ball to the left of Alberto Giorda. Israel Correia showed that you don't have to tear a hole in the net to score, 1-0. Alberto Giorda made an important save on a dangerous shot by Augusto Ponte in the 9th minute. 13 minutes into the game, Angelo Palha recieved a splendid long ball, split the defenders, and gently placed the ball to the left of Alberto Giorda. Angelo Palha showed that you don't have to tear a hole in the net to score, 2-0. 17 minutes into the match, Exército Português's Israel Correia sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Alberto Giorda narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Ermanno Mammarella's late challenge caught a Exército Português's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Ermanno Mammarella helped the player get up and apologised. Ermanno Mammarella hit a great freekick 17 minutes into the match. The long shot by Patrício Gueifão in the 18th minute really tested Alberto Giorda's skills. The ball was on its way into the goal to the left of him when he managed to stretch himself and save the shot and avoid a goal. The supporters of Exército Português booed when Merceron United was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 20 match minutes in a wonderful position. Ermanno Di Federico didn't get a good kick on the ball. A hard shot by Patrício Gueifão from long distance, 21 minutes into the match, got Alberto Giorda's attention. Through a fast twist with his body, he could stop the ball from going in on his right side. Alberto Giorda showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Angelo Palha in the 22nd minute of the match. During the 22nd minute of the match Ermanno Mammarella completely mistimed his tackle and brought down his opponent. The referee gave Ermanno Mammarella a yellow card, his second in the match, which meant he could no longer take part in the game. In the 23rd minute, Ermanno Mammarella hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Alberto Giorda showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Angelo Palha, who was totally free with the ball in the 25th minute. In the 26th minute, Carlo Mandelli hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Patrício Gueifão took a chance and fired a shot far from the goal in the 26th minute, but it turned out to be a dangerous situation for Alberto Giorda. Merceron United's goalkeeper really had to stretch himself to stop the ball from crossing the goal line. Ermanno Di Federico was astounded when the referee showed him the red card after a seemingly innocent challenge, 28 minutes into the match. The referee blew the whistle for a penalty in the 27th minute of the game. One of Merceron United:s players had nearly got his shirt torn off by an opponent while getting free in front of Exército Português:s goal. Alberto Giorda was a little too slow when Israel Correia got a fine hit on the ball which went right into the goal in the 34th minute. The score was now 4-0. The supporters of Exército Português booed when Merceron United was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 39 match minutes in a wonderful position. Ercole Proia didn't get a good kick on the ball. Alberto Giorda showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Francisco Durães, who was totally free with the ball in the 43rd minute. No-one was surprised that the home team were leading 4-0 at half-time.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Augusto Ponte to make the kick off. A collision led to Merceron United getting a freekick after 53 minutes play. Carter Ricci hit a great ball. With a little luck, Exército Português's Sandro Valverde got control of the ball when Carlo Mandelli tried to sneak it across the goal line. Alberto Giorda made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Augusto Ponte in the 56th minute of play. Francisco Durães charged in rather forcefully in the 63rd minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Francisco Durães the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. The supporters of Merceron United booed when Exército Português was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 64 match minutes in a wonderful position. Francisco Durães didn't get a good kick on the ball. With his leg Sandro Valverde managed to avoid a goal in the 65thth minute, when Merceron United's Carlo Mandelli fired away a shot with a lot of spin towards his right hand side. In the 66th minute, Angelo Palha left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The Exército Português fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 5-0. Alberto Giorda didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Angelo Palha went, in the 71st minute, to the upper right corner, 6-0 was the resulting score. 74 minutes into the match, Merceron United's goal looked a bit too open when Augusto Ponte came free, but Alberto Giorda reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. 83 minutes into the game, Exército Português's Augusto Ponte nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Alberto Giorda made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 7-0. Angelo Palha scored 8-0 in the 94th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Alberto Giorda, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. There was no doubt that Exército Português were the better team. Exército Português's players enjoyed the ovations of the crowd after the victory.