U18 World League

Academy Arena
Spectators: 7527 (Terracing: 5646, Seating: 1731, VIP seats: 150) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Marcu Petru started the match with the kick off. In the 3rd minute, Germano Carmona fired away a killer shot towards the goal that, to the delight of Mihail Stroia, passed just outside the right post. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Sever Ţurcaş during the 9th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. Sever Ţurcaş hit a great freekick 9 minutes into the match. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Marcu Petru in the 13th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Ramiro Leme saved Stars Academy from getting behind. The audience was convinced that Ciprian Groza's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Ramiro Leme was relentless in the 15th minute of the game. Sever Ţurcaş received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 16th minute. Ramiro Leme tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Ramiro Leme showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Ciprian Groza in the 23rd minute of the match. Américo Albuquerque fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 26th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Mihail Stroia having to interfere. Salvador Sobral's late challenge caught a AFC PunisherS™'s player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Salvador Sobral helped the player get up and apologised. An unexpectedly hard shot by Marcu Petru in the 33rd minute of play forced Stars Academy's goalkeeper Ramiro Leme to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. After some fancy dribbling in the 40th minute, Marcu Petru managed to get in a good position for a shot. AFC PunisherS™'s supporters rose to their feet, but Marcu Petru was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Ramiro Leme breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. An unexpectedly hard shot by Marcu Petru in the 43rd minute of play forced Stars Academy's goalkeeper Ramiro Leme to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. 45 minutes into the match, AFC PunisherS™'s goal looked a bit too open when Américo Albuquerque came free, but Mihail Stroia reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After some fancy dribbling in the 48th minute, Ciprian Groza managed to get in a good position for a shot. AFC PunisherS™'s supporters rose to their feet, but Ciprian Groza was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Ramiro Leme breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Disappointed in the 0-1 score, the home team went to the dressing room to adjust tactics for the second half.

Manole Miclauș hit a great freekick 53 minutes into the match. In the 55th match minute, AFC PunisherS™ was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Manole Miclauș to maneuver through the defense. Marcu Petru sent away a hard shot on goal in the 59th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. 62 minutes into the match, Stars Academy's goal looked a bit too open when Marcu Petru came free, but Ramiro Leme reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 65thth minute of the game Marcu Petru who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Stars Academy's Ramiro Leme was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. An unexpectedly hard shot by Ciprian Groza in the 66th minute of play forced Stars Academy's goalkeeper Ramiro Leme to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Marcu Petru fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 68th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Ramiro Leme having to interfere. Américo Albuquerque fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 71st minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Mihail Stroia having to interfere. Ramiro Leme made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Marcu Petru in the 74th minute of play. Marcu Petru sent away a hard shot on goal in the 75th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. A collision led to AFC PunisherS™ getting a freekick after 78 minutes play. Manole Miclauș hit a great ball. After 79 minutes of play, the referee blew the whistle. It was a penalty for AFC PunisherS™! Mihail Stroia went to the wrong direction when António Cortez was taking care of the penalty kick which however missed the goal. Marcu Petru did some fancy footwork in front of goal and succeeded to deceive the defenders so he could slam the ball in 0-2 to the left of a surprised Ramiro Leme 85 minutes into the match. 90 minutes had been played when some careless play by Stars Academy's defense caused the ball to cross the line for a corner. Mihai Dragomir was slow to take the kick. During this time AFC PunisherS™'s players had a chance to rest. AFC PunisherS™'s Mihai Dragomir was first on the ball when the corner was shot and he dangerously headed the ball towards goal, but Ramiro Leme in the goal jumped up to prevent it from getting in. When Marcu Petru, who was free, got the in front of the goal in the 92 minute he wasn't focused and tipped the ball just over the goal. The Ramiro Leme was delighted since the ball would have got in if it had gone under the crossbar. Germano Carmona's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Mihail Stroia read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 98th minute of play. AFC PunisherS™'s players went to the stands to thank the travelling support. The fan's backing had helped spurr the team on to a fine performance that won them the match.