U23 World League

Saddledome Stadium
Spectators: 7705 (Terracing: 5780, Seating: 1772, VIP seats: 153) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Norbert Garland got the match started through his kick off. Sergio Gutierrez made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Norbert Garland in the 2nd minute of play. After a rather tough play, Flames FC's Horace Vaughn got a free kick in the 3rd minute. Margarito Santana showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from José Ramos, who was totally free with the ball in the 4th minute. In the 5th minute ►Las Mercedes F.C◄ were awarded a corner. José Ramos went to the cornerflag to take it. The corner led to ►Las Mercedes F.C◄'s Totín De Leon getting away a dangerous shot that went just outside the goal. After having played for 8 minutes, José Ramos managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. ►Las Mercedes F.C◄'s supporters crossed their fingers, but José Ramos was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Sergio Gutierrez showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Ambrose Keen in the 10th minute of the match. Flames FC's Margarito Santana played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by José Ramos in the 15th minute of play. 16 minutes had been played when some careless play by Flames FC's defense caused the ball to cross the line for a corner. José Ramos was slow to take the kick. During this time ►Las Mercedes F.C◄'s players had a chance to rest. The corner ended in José Ramos almost managing to get the ball behind the net, but Flames FC's Margarito Santana did a great save. Margarito Santana stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of José Ramos's shot from short distance in the 18th minute. Margarito Santana came out of the goal in the 20th minute to try and stop a shot by ►Las Mercedes F.C◄'s Totín De Leon. But to his dismay, Totín De Leon quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 0-1. Nelsinho Nóbrega kicked well hit freekick during the 22nd minute of the match. With a little luck, ►Las Mercedes F.C◄'s Sergio Gutierrez got control of the ball when Horace Vaughn tried to sneak it across the goal line. In the 38th minute, Horace Vaughn got an opportunity to score, but he didn't get a solid hit on the ball and ended up kicking it wide of the goal. Margarito Santana showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Diómedes Rodriguez in the 42nd minute of the match. ►Las Mercedes F.C◄'s Sergio Gutierrez proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 44th minute of the match, managed to save ►Las Mercedes F.C◄ from getting a goal against them. The crowd was extremely unhappy with the home team's performance in the first half. They were losing 0-2.

The wind increased when Diómedes Rodriguez made the kick off in the second half. Flames FC's Margarito Santana played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by José Ramos in the 50th minute of play. In the 59th minute, Flames FC's goalie took a deep sigh of relief after Diómedes Rodriguez fired away a hard shot that went just outside the left post. With a little luck, Flames FC's Margarito Santana got control of the ball when Diómedes Rodriguez tried to sneak it across the goal line. ►Las Mercedes F.C◄ were awarded a corner in the 60th minute after Flames FC's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. José Ramos took the corner. The corner led ►Las Mercedes F.C◄'s José Ramos to fire away a dangerous shot which Margarito Santana despite some difficulties managed to get hold on the ball. A hard shot 60 in the game by Totín De Leon from a close distance when the talented Margarito Santana managed to make a qualified save. Flames FC's players were relieved. Flames FC made a substitution. Berry Corley replaced Donald Kearns. Margarito Santana showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from José Ramos, who was totally free with the ball in the 77th minute. ►Las Mercedes F.C◄'s Sergio Gutierrez played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Norbert Garland in the 78th minute of play. After 81 minutes of play, ►Las Mercedes F.C◄'s José Ramos made it 0-5 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Margarito Santana was left in no man's land by his defense there! With his leg Margarito Santana managed to avoid a goal in the 84thth minute, when ►Las Mercedes F.C◄'s José Ramos fired away a shot with a lot of spin towards his right hand side. After a rather tough play, Flames FC's Valère Flowers got a free kick in the 93rd minute. The away crowd were delighted with the way their team had played and cheered loudly when the final whistle sounded. ►Las Mercedes F.C◄ walked away with the win, even though the match was close until the end.