U21 World League

Temple of Solomon
Spectators: 7698 (Terracing: 5775, Seating: 1770, VIP seats: 153) Ambrosio Abellaneda started the match with the kick off in front of an excited audience. In the 3rd minute, Ambrosio Abellaneda 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 sloppy throw-in by Adam Aquilina in the 6th minute of the game went astray and was snapped up by Octavia's Peter Abella. Ambrosio Abellaneda received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 10th minute. Samuel Demicoli tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. 14 minutes into the match, Octavia's goalkeeper Luar Abadie had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Peppino Azzopardi. Samuel Demicoli showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Nicollao Abad in the 20th minute of the match. In the 21st minute, Mark Borg Xuereb 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. In the 27th minute, Templars FC's Mark Borg Xuereb ran free of his marker and smoothly shot the ball into the goal behind Luar Abadie. Luar Abadie yelled at his defense, as they had left him out to dry. 1-0. Ambrosio Abellaneda fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 31st minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Samuel Demicoli having to interfere. In the 34th minute of the match, Mark Borg Xuereb tried to roll the ball into the goal by the right post, but Luar Abadie saw his intentions and got control of the ball before it passed the line. Joachim Abel hit a great freekick 34 minutes into the match. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Oliver Friggieri in the 35th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Luar Abadie saved Octavia from getting behind. 38 minutes into the match, Templars FC's goal looked a bit too open when Ambrosio Abellaneda came free, but Samuel Demicoli reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. 40 minutes into the game, Octavia's Ambrosio Abellaneda nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Samuel Demicoli made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 1-1. Luar Abadie made an important save on a dangerous shot by Oliver Friggieri in the 44th minute. After the first half the score was level. The break gave the players a chance to catch their breath, whilst the managers went over the tactics with them again.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Oliver Friggieri to make the kick off. After 51 played minutes Octavia got a freekick which was hit by Saúl Mondaca. The audience thought a goal was coming when Ambrosio Abellaneda got free with Samuel Demicoli in the 58th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Luar Abadie made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Peppino Azzopardi in the 60th minute of play. 62 minutes into the game, Mark Borg Xuereb cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 3-1. Luar Abadie was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. The supporters of Octavia booed when Templars FC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 75 match minutes in a wonderful position. Mark Borg Xuereb didn't get a good kick on the ball. Constantino Yebra kicked well hit freekick during the 78th minute of the match. Ambrosio Abellaneda's late challenge caught a Templars FC's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Ambrosio Abellaneda helped the player get up and apologised. Marcos Troncoso sent away a hard shot on goal in the 89th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Marcos Troncoso kicked well hit freekick during the 92nd minute of the match. After 93 played minutes, Templars FC's Gabriel Lentini shot from a long distance, and at first it looked like the ball was going into the goal, but the goalkeeper Luar Abadie came through and got his fingers on the ball before it flew over the goal line. He then quickly gripped the ball tighter before the forwards in Templars FC reached it. The supporters of Templars FC booed when Octavia was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 94 match minutes in a wonderful position. Peter Abella didn't get a good kick on the ball. Keith DeGaetano took a chance and fired a shot far from the goal in the 95th minute, but it turned out to be a dangerous situation for Luar Abadie. Octavia's goalkeeper really had to stretch himself to stop the ball from crossing the goal line. Octavia's Luar Abadie played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Peppino Azzopardi in the 96th minute of play. Octavia's players left the field with heads hung low after losing a match that had been finely balanced throughout.