U21 World League

Alberto J. Armando
Spectators: 7496 (Terracing: 5623, Seating: 1724, VIP seats: 149) Franja Dorada's Alfonso Palban 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. 4 minutes in the game, Moises Napier fired away an excellent shot, which passed to the side of the right post without Lino Bembe having to interfere. 5 minutes into the game, Juan Diegotxe was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. ROJO's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Franja Dorada the free kick. After a rather tough play, ROJO's Juan Diegotxe got a free kick in the 5th minute. In the 11th minute, Lisandro Remicio hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Venancio Hodei took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Felix Bizi, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. A well-hit corner resulted in Nicolas Salvino heading the ball towards the goal, but to his dismay he misdirected it and missed the goal completely. Venancio Hodei took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Tiburcio Jenaro, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Lino Bembe showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Gustavo Goito in the 19th minute of the match. After a rather tough play, Franja Dorada's Lisandro Remicio got a free kick in the 20th minute. In the 29th minute the ball was on its way in behind ROJO's goalkeeper Lino Bembe, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. Venancio Hodei showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Nicolas Salvino, who was totally free with the ball in the 34th minute. The supporters of Franja Dorada booed when ROJO was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 35 match minutes in a wonderful position. Roman Haritz didn't get a good kick on the ball. Franja Dorada's Isidro Cordeal shoveled away a really nice long shot in the 35th minute of play. The shot was stopped by Lino Bembe but with some difficulty. After a defensive mix-up in ROJO's zone, Alfonso Palban stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Lino Bembe came out of the goal and Alfonso Palban tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Isidro Cordeal received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 40th minute. Lino Bembe tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. After a rather tough play, ROJO's Felix Bizi got a free kick in the 43rd minute. Lino Bembe made an important save on a dangerous shot by Alfonso Palban in the 45th minute. The fans had the chance to grab some refreshments as the whistle went for half-time. The score stood at 0-0 after a close first half.

ROJO's Edelmiro Dolfos was substituted for Tiburcio Jenaro. The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Felix Bizi stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. After a rather tough play, Franja Dorada's Lisandro Remicio got a free kick in the 53rd minute. Venancio Hodei showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Edelmiro Dolfos in the 57th minute of the match. In the 59th minute Moises Napier shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Lino Bembe saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Lino Bembe didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Gustavo Goito went, in the 60th minute, to the upper right corner, 1-0 was the resulting score. Lino Bembe took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Alfonso Palban, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. If Moises Napier had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 68th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. Lino Bembe made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Gustavo Goito in the 70th minute of play. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Alfonso Palban in the 73rd managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Lino Bembe saved ROJO from getting behind. In the 77th minute Nicolas Salvino shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Venancio Hodei saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 79th minute of the match ROJO got a corner. Franja Dorada's goalie ran out to the linesman to protest the call, but the linesman resolutely pointed his flag at the cornerflag. Roman Haritz ran over to the corner to take the kick. Nicolas Salvino made a great header on ROJO's corner, it was just that Franja Dorada's Venancio Hodei managed to reach the ball for a save. In the 88th minute, Cosme Tanio hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Roman Haritz took a chance and fired a shot far from the goal in the 89th minute, but it turned out to be a dangerous situation for Venancio Hodei. Franja Dorada's goalkeeper really had to stretch himself to stop the ball from crossing the goal line. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Alfonso Palban in the 90th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Lino Bembe saved ROJO from getting behind. After 93 played minutes ROJO got a freekick which was hit by Edelmiro Dolfos. The home crowd let out a huge roar when the referee blew for the end of the game. Franja Dorada were victorious despite being under pressure from ROJO for much of the match.