U21 World League

NINHO de CUCOS
Spectators: 7742 (Terracing: 5808, Seating: 1780, VIP seats: 154) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when Januário Martins kicked off to start the match. In the 4th minute, Jens Westerberg made a precise shot to the right of Lúcio Lopes. Arrebimba o Malho SLB's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 0-1. Bennvar Nikkinen struck a weak shot in the 8th minute. Lúcio Lopes didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Plan B. If Bennvar Nikkinen had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 18th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After some fancy dribbling in the 20th minute, Januário Martins managed to get in a good position for a shot. Arrebimba o Malho SLB's supporters rose to their feet, but Januário Martins was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Leif Västberg breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. In the 26th minute Bennvar Nikkinen shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Lúcio Lopes saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Lúcio Lopes showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Bennvar Nikkinen, who was totally free with the ball in the 31st minute. 39 minutes into the match, Arrebimba o Malho SLB's goal looked a bit too open when Jens Westerberg came free, but Lúcio Lopes reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 41st minute Bennvar Nikkinen shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Lúcio Lopes saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 42nd minute, Arturo Sandoval hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. 45 minutes into the match, Bennvar Nikkinen had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Lúcio Lopes. Arrebimba o Malho SLB's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Bennvar Nikkinen was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 2-4. Luck had favoured the away team in the first, and they walked off with a 2-4 lead.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Jens Westerberg to make the kick off. Lúcio Lopes showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Jens Westerberg, who was totally free with the ball in the 57th minute. In the 58th minute, Ben Fica made a precise shot to the right of Leif Västberg. Plan B's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 3-4. 62 minutes into the match, Arrebimba o Malho SLB's goalkeeper Lúcio Lopes had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Bennvar Nikkinen. Lúcio Lopes made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Jens Westerberg in the 65th minute of play. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Januário Martins during the 67th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. A collision led to Arrebimba o Malho SLB getting a freekick after 67 minutes play. Januário Martins hit a great ball. With an all-out effort, Plan B's Lúcio Lopes threw himself towards the right post 69 minutes into the match and grabbed hold of the ball from Jens Westerberg, which otherwise would have been placed in the net. Lúcio Lopes took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Folke Flink, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. When Jens Westerberg in the 76th play minute got the chance to kick a hard shot on goal from short distance neither the defense or Lúcio Lopes kept up with the ball and suddenly the score was 3-6 when the ball slipped into goal inside the left pole. The supporters of Plan B booed when Arrebimba o Malho SLB was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 79 match minutes in a wonderful position. Tarcísio Santarém didn't get a good kick on the ball. Arturo Sandoval hit a great freekick 85 minutes into the match. The audience thought a goal was coming when Bennvar Nikkinen got free with Lúcio Lopes in the 90th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. If Jens Westerberg had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 94th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. A hard shot 96 in the game by Bennvar Nikkinen from a close distance when the talented Lúcio Lopes managed to make a qualified save. Arrebimba o Malho SLB's players were relieved. The referee blew the final whistle, and the away crowd roared, having watched Plan B eke out a victory against a very well matched opponent.