U21 World League

BALCALI MEZARLIĞI
Spectators: 7729 (Terracing: 5798, Seating: 1777, VIP seats: 154) ÜSTEĞMEN FK's Çetin Ceviz 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. In the 5th minute, Thomas Zrinzo made a precise shot to the right of Gazi Açıkgün. ÜSTEĞMEN FK's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 0-1. Gazi Açıkgün took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Lawrence De Marco, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Gazi Açıkgün showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Lawrence De Marco in the 14th minute of the match. An unexpectedly hard shot by Thomas Zrinzo in the 16th minute of play forced ÜSTEĞMEN FK's goalkeeper Gazi Açıkgün to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 24th minute, Mario Pullicino ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Gazi Açıkgün was frozen by the shot and now it was 0-3. Hamdi Sökmensu received a nice pass, split the defenders, and ran untouched towards the goal. Amadeo Rapinett came out and tried to block the shot, but Hamdi Sökmensu slotted it home off the left post making it 1-3 in the 27th minute. 31 minutes into the match, ÜSTEĞMEN FK's goal looked a bit too open when Thomas Zrinzo came free, but Gazi Açıkgün reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Gazi Açıkgün made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Lawrence De Marco in the 33rd minute of play. Gazi Açıkgün took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Lawrence De Marco, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Gazi Açıkgün made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Mario Pullicino in the 38th minute of play. After some careless play in the ÜSTEĞMEN FK defense, Clyde Schembri Zerafa kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Gazi Açıkgün. The ÜSTEĞMEN FK fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Gazi Açıkgün should have stopped the shot. An unexpectedly hard shot by Thomas Zrinzo in the 45th minute of play forced ÜSTEĞMEN FK's goalkeeper Gazi Açıkgün to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. 46 minutes into the match, ÜSTEĞMEN FK's goal looked a bit too open when Thomas Zrinzo came free, but Gazi Açıkgün reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After the first half Attard Gunners were leading 1-4. They had played with great self confidence throughout the first half and fully deserved their lead.

The wind increased when Lawrence De Marco made the kick off in the second half. Mario Pullicino could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 50th minute of the match, but Gazi Açıkgün made a huge save. Gazi Açıkgün came out of the goal in the 53rd minute to try and stop a shot by Attard Gunners's Clyde Schembri Zerafa. But to his dismay, Clyde Schembri Zerafa quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 1-5. Polat Lema hit a great freekick 58 minutes into the match. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Mario Pullicino in the 60th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Gazi Açıkgün saved ÜSTEĞMEN FK from getting behind. In the 62nd minute Attard Gunners were awarded a corner. Angelo Incorvaia went to the cornerflag to take it. Attard Gunners's Angelo Incorvaia was first on the ball when the corner was shot and he dangerously headed the ball towards goal, but Gazi Açıkgün in the goal jumped up to prevent it from getting in. Gazi Açıkgün made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Clyde Schembri Zerafa in the 65th minute of play. After a rather tough play, ÜSTEĞMEN FK's Baturalp Revis got a free kick in the 68th minute. Gazi Açıkgün took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Lawrence De Marco, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Lawrence De Marco might have been able to make a better finish in the 79th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Gazi Açıkgün. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Lawrence De Marco ran back to his position shaking his head. In the 80th minute, Baturalp Revis hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. When Hamdi Sökmensu fell near the penalty area in the 81st minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored ÜSTEĞMEN FK's protests and gave Hamdi Sökmensu a yellow card for diving instead. Gazi Açıkgün made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Sean Bailey in the 84th minute of play. In the 85th play minute Thomas Zrinzo came free and shot an unsuspected shot which went into goal from the right pole behind a surprised Gazi Açıkgün. 1-7. An unexpectedly hard shot by Lawrence De Marco in the 88th minute of play forced ÜSTEĞMEN FK's goalkeeper Gazi Açıkgün to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Thomas Zrinzo did some fancy footwork in front of goal and succeeded to deceive the defenders so he could slam the ball in 1-8 to the left of a surprised Gazi Açıkgün 91 minutes into the match. Attard Gunners made a substitution. Robert Gera replaced Thomas Zrinzo. Attard Gunners played a much better game than ÜSTEĞMEN FK and deserved their victory. The ÜSTEĞMEN FK players were clearly disappointed as they left the ground.