U21 World League

LA BRANCANERA
Spectators: 7751 (Terracing: 5815, Seating: 1782, VIP seats: 154) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Marteinn Branca started the match with the kick off. An unexpectedly hard shot by Baltazar Fonticoba in the 3rd minute of play forced Sportivo Fernet Branca's goalkeeper Alfonso Dalmai to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. The supporters of Sportivo Fernet Branca booed when ClUb DePoRtIvO LUGO was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 10 match minutes in a wonderful position. Carles Astudillo didn't get a good kick on the ball. Baltazar Fonticoba recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 12th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. 14 minutes had been played when some careless play by Sportivo Fernet Branca's defense caused the ball to cross the line for a corner. Juan Viqueira was slow to take the kick. During this time ClUb DePoRtIvO LUGO's players had a chance to rest. After a rather tough play, Sportivo Fernet Branca's Koča Branca got a free kick in the 15th minute. Marteinn Branca might have been able to make a better finish in the 17th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Xabel Beloki. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Marteinn Branca ran back to his position shaking his head. Xabel Beloki showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Marteinn Branca in the 17th minute of the match. In the 20th match minute, Sportivo Fernet Branca was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Luisito Seme to maneuver through the defense. 22 minutes into the game, ClUb DePoRtIvO LUGO's Ruperto Mendez nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Alfonso Dalmai made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 0-2. Marteinn Branca took the ball and in the 25 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Xabel Beloki. Xabel Beloki dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 1-2. Ruperto Mendez sent away a hard shot on goal in the 29th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Sportivo Fernet Branca's Marteinn Branca came free and shot a quick shot against goal 38 minutes in the game, fortunately Xabel Beloki had problems saving as it came toward the left post. 42 minutes into the match, Sportivo Fernet Branca's Marteinn Branca sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Xabel Beloki narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Honorio Arce's late challenge caught a ClUb DePoRtIvO LUGO's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Honorio Arce helped the player get up and apologised. Honorio Arce hit a great freekick 45 minutes into the match.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Baltazar Fonticoba made a kick off. In the 51st minute, Marteinn Branca ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Xabel Beloki was frozen by the shot and now it was 2-2. Baltazar Fonticoba sent away a hard shot on goal in the 55th minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. Koča Branca hit a great freekick 58 minutes into the match. In the 60th minute Marteinn Branca shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Xabel Beloki saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Baltazar Fonticoba in the 65th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Alfonso Dalmai prevented the ball from getting in the gole. Carles Astudillo kicked well hit freekick during the 66th minute of the match. ClUb DePoRtIvO LUGO's Cugat Marines was substituted for Baltazar Fonticoba. After a rather tough play, ClUb DePoRtIvO LUGO's Carles Astudillo got a free kick in the 67th minute. Marteinn Branca might have been able to make a better finish in the 68th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Xabel Beloki. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Marteinn Branca ran back to his position shaking his head. An unexpectedly hard shot by Marteinn Branca in the 68th minute of play forced ClUb DePoRtIvO LUGO's goalkeeper Xabel Beloki to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. When Alarico Borrás fell near the penalty area in the 70th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored ClUb DePoRtIvO LUGO's protests and gave Alarico Borrás a yellow card for diving instead. Alarico Borrás hit a great freekick 70 minutes into the match. Marteinn Branca blasted a shot towards the goal in the 72nd minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Xabel Beloki having to make a save. After 76 played minutes ClUb DePoRtIvO LUGO got a freekick which was hit by Carles Astudillo. Xabel Beloki came out of the goal in the 77th minute to try and stop a shot by Sportivo Fernet Branca's Marteinn Branca. But to his dismay, Marteinn Branca quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 3-2. After 79 played minutes Sportivo Fernet Branca got a freekick which was hit by Marteinn Branca. In the 80th minute, Cugat Marines made a precise shot to the right of Alfonso Dalmai. Sportivo Fernet Branca's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 3-3. 87 minutes into the match, Sportivo Fernet Branca's Marteinn Branca sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Xabel Beloki narrowly saved just below the crossbar. In the 95th match minute, Sportivo Fernet Branca was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Mauricio Omero to maneuver through the defense. Jeers came from both ends of the stadium when the final whistle went. Neither team had looked impressive and the draw seeemd a fair result.