U23 World League

Purple Arena
Spectators: 7984 (Terracing: 5989, Seating: 1836, VIP seats: 159) Victor de Sena started the match with the kick off in front of an excited audience. In the 3rd minute, Victor de Sena hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Steve Van der Veeken made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Victor de Sena in the 6th minute of play. In the 8th minute, Purple Talents's Qiu Feng Guo ran free of his marker and smoothly shot the ball into the goal behind Tiaguinho Netto. Tiaguinho Netto yelled at his defense, as they had left him out to dry. 1-0. Purple Talents's Steve Van der Veeken played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Allan da Silveira in the 13th minute of play. In the 20th minute Doriva Pinho shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Steve Van der Veeken saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. After 28 played minutes Clube do Remo MZ got a freekick which was hit by Luiz Fernando Britto. Tiaguinho Netto stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Qiu Feng Guo's shot from short distance in the 31st minute. Tiaguinho Netto didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Qiu Feng Guo went, in the 33rd minute, to the upper right corner, 2-1 was the resulting score. Steve Van der Veeken took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Doriva Pinho, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Purple Talents's Steve Van der Veeken played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Doriva Pinho in the 36th minute of play. An unexpectedly hard shot by Mário Maia in the 39th minute of play forced Purple Talents's goalkeeper Steve Van der Veeken to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Steve Van der Veeken showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Doriva Pinho in the 43rd minute of the match. 46 minutes into the match, Clube do Remo MZ's goal looked a bit too open when Ricky Waegemans came free, but Tiaguinho Netto reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After fighting hard for a draw in the first half, the players were able to take a much needed rest.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Ricky Waegemans stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. The supporters of Clube do Remo MZ booed when Purple Talents was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 51 match minutes in a wonderful position. Tansel Visali didn't get a good kick on the ball. Victor de Sena could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 57th minute of the match, but Steve Van der Veeken made a huge save. In the 58th match minute, Clube do Remo MZ was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Carlos Fernando Velloso to maneuver through the defense. When Yvan Loos came up free with the goalie in the 59th minute, the Purple Talents fans jumped to their feet. But the shot missed the goal by a fraction of an inch, and the fans sat back down disappointed that Yvan Loos couldn't finish the play. Qiu Feng Guo's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Tiaguinho Netto read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 63rd minute of play. 64 minutes had been played when some careless play by Clube do Remo MZ's defense caused the ball to cross the line for a corner. Yvan Loos was slow to take the kick. During this time Purple Talents's players had a chance to rest. After taking down the ball on Purple Talents's corner Yvan Loos fired away a hard shot, but the defenders efficiently covered the most dangerous angles and Tiaguinho Netto quite easily take care of the ball. In the 68th minute Mário Maia shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Steve Van der Veeken saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Steve Van der Veeken took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Doriva Pinho, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Kristiaan Van den Haute fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 71st minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Tiaguinho Netto having to interfere. 74 minutes into the game, Purple Talents's Qiu Feng Guo nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Tiaguinho Netto made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 3-2. With a little luck, Purple Talents's Steve Van der Veeken got control of the ball when Victor de Sena tried to sneak it across the goal line. When Qiu Feng Guo came up free with the goalie in the 80th minute, the Purple Talents fans jumped to their feet. But the shot missed the goal by a fraction of an inch, and the fans sat back down disappointed that Qiu Feng Guo couldn't finish the play. A collision led to Clube do Remo MZ getting a freekick after 84 minutes play. Enrique Zonta hit a great ball. 85 minutes into the game, Purple Talents's Qiu Feng Guo nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Tiaguinho Netto made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 4-2. A sloppy throw-in by Enrique Zonta in the 93rd minute of the game went astray and was snapped up by Purple Talents's Philippe-Arnaud Bourguignon. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Mário Maia in the 95th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Steve Van der Veeken saved Purple Talents from getting behind. Purple Talents's fans were exulted and cheered after their team won in a match that could easily have gone the other way.