U23 World League

Queen Arena
Spectators: 8035 (Terracing: 6027, Seating: 1848, VIP seats: 160) Decathlon Dudes's Juan Ayuso 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. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Gabriel Vermeşan in the 9th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg César Sousa saved Decathlon Dudes from getting behind. With an all-out effort, Emerald's César Sousa threw himself towards the right post 13 minutes into the match and grabbed hold of the ball from Victor Piţurcă, which otherwise would have been placed in the net. Emerald's Bogdan Lobonț played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Wilco Keldermans in the 15th minute of play. 17 minutes into the match, Decathlon Dudes's Daan Wegman sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Bogdan Lobonț narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Matei Félix Júnior hit a great freekick 21 minutes into the match. In the 25th minute, Simon Hilhorst left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The Decathlon Dudes fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 0-1. César Sousa showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Gabriel Vermeşan, who was totally free with the ball in the 29th minute. 29 minutes into the match, Decathlon Dudes's goal looked a bit too open when Gabriel Vermeşan came free, but César Sousa reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. If Simon Hilhorst had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 31st minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After some careless play in the Decathlon Dudes defense, Victor Piţurcă kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of César Sousa. The Decathlon Dudes fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that César Sousa should have stopped the shot. An unexpectedly hard shot by Victor Piţurcă in the 45th minute of play forced Decathlon Dudes's goalkeeper César Sousa to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. After fighting hard for a draw in the first half, the players were able to take a much needed rest.

Victor Piţurcă's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but César Sousa read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 54th minute of play. The audience was convinced that Juan Ayuso's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Bogdan Lobonț was relentless in the 58th minute of the game. Victor Piţurcă sent away a hard shot on goal in the 62nd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. César Sousa made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Gabriel Vermeşan in the 68th minute of play. 70 minutes into the game, Juan Ayuso cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 1-2. Bogdan Lobonț was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. Bogdan Lobonț was in the perfect position, and the defense had done a good job marking him, but Simon Hilhorst showcased his skills and made a perfect shot to score 1-3 in the 75 minute of play. Simon Hilhorst sent away a hard shot on goal in the 78th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Klaas Zwartkruis got a throw-in 81 minutes in the game and the ball was received by Simon Hilhorst. Wilco Keldermans fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 82nd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Bogdan Lobonț having to interfere. 89 minutes into the game, Victor Piţurcă cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 2-3. César Sousa was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Harmen Hilkes during the 93rd minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. Harmen Hilkes kicked well hit freekick during the 93rd minute of the match. The referee felt a red card was in order, 94 minutes into the game, when Mathieu Van de Poel put in a rough tackle. The referee blew the whistle for a penalty in the 94th minute of the game. One of Decathlon Dudes:s players had nearly got his shirt torn off by an opponent while getting free in front of Emerald:s goal. César Sousa had in the 95thth minute some difficulties stopping Victor Piţurcă's well aimed penalty as it nearly passed him on his left side, but he still managed to hold the ball. The referee blew the final whistle, and the away crowd roared, having watched Decathlon Dudes eke out a victory against a very well matched opponent.