U18 World League

Mintis Arena
Spectators: 7570 (Terracing: 5679, Seating: 1740, VIP seats: 151) Garth Cao Xiao started the match with the kick off in front of an excited audience. Gvidonas Jakimavičius didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Geoff Hahn went, in the 7th minute, to the upper right corner, 0-1 was the resulting score. 11 minutes into the match, FK Mintis Vilnius's goal looked a bit too open when Benjamin Norton came free, but Gvidonas Jakimavičius reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. When the match had gone on for 14 minutes, Ugnius Budnikas took a quick shot and it went in 1-1 without a chance for Jayson Burnett to make any attempt to save it. 20 minutes into the game, FK Mintis Vilnius's Ugnius Budnikas nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Jayson Burnett made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 2-1. Garth Cao Xiao struck a weak shot in the 24th minute. Gvidonas Jakimavičius didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for River tu grato nombre. 25 minutes into the match, FK Mintis Vilnius's goal looked a bit too open when Benjamin Norton came free, but Gvidonas Jakimavičius reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. A collision led to FK Mintis Vilnius getting a freekick after 27 minutes play. Lukas Kulpys hit a great ball. 29 minutes into the match, Garth Cao Xiao had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Gvidonas Jakimavičius. FK Mintis Vilnius's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Garth Cao Xiao was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 2-2. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Bradley Cody in the 32nd minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Gvidonas Jakimavičius prevented the ball from getting in the gole. FK Mintis Vilnius's Lukas Kulpys was standing unmarked in front of the goal when he, in the 36th play minute, got the ball and easily drilled it into the goal. In the 40th minute, Motiejus Saudargis left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The FK Mintis Vilnius fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 4-2. 46 minutes into the game, Geoff Hahn cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 4-3. Gvidonas Jakimavičius was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. The away team players looked dejected as the walked off the pitch at half time. They had fought hard, but were still losing 4-3.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Ugnius Budnikas was the one to do the kick off. The supporters of River tu grato nombre booed when FK Mintis Vilnius was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 51 match minutes in a wonderful position. Lukas Kulpys didn't get a good kick on the ball. In the 52nd minute of the match Ace Gray shot from a long distance. The ball could have gone into the goal to the right of the goalkeeper, but Gvidonas Jakimavičius showed his good shape when he easily got hold of the ball. After 54 played minutes FK Mintis Vilnius got a freekick which was hit by Lukas Kulpys. After 55 played minutes River tu grato nombre got a freekick which was hit by Walter Goodwin. 59 minutes into the match, Lukas Kulpys had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Jayson Burnett. River tu grato nombre's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Lukas Kulpys was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 5-3. Garth Cao Xiao sent away a hard shot on goal in the 66th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After some careless play in the River tu grato nombre defense, Ugnius Budnikas kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Jayson Burnett. The River tu grato nombre fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Jayson Burnett should have stopped the shot. Jayson Burnett took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Albertas Adamonis, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Jayson Burnett showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Lukas Kulpys in the 75th minute of the match. Jayson Burnett didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Lukas Kulpys went, in the 77th minute, to the upper right corner, 7-3 was the resulting score. Garth Cao Xiao fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 86th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Gvidonas Jakimavičius having to interfere. In the 87th match minute, FK Mintis Vilnius was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Emilis Laivys to maneuver through the defense. In the 90th minute Motiejus Saudargis shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Jayson Burnett saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. An unexpectedly hard shot by Motiejus Saudargis in the 92nd minute of play forced River tu grato nombre's goalkeeper Jayson Burnett to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Tauras Marčiauskas during the 94th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. In the 94th minute, Tauras Marčiauskas hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. River tu grato nombre's players left the field with heads hung low after losing a match that had been finely balanced throughout.