U23 World League

Dragons Graveyard
Spectators: 7714 (Terracing: 5787, Seating: 1774, VIP seats: 153) GRÊMIO's Liu Feng Guang 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. Uwe Nwachukwu took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Elpidio Gai, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Ettore Gaeta sent away a hard shot on goal in the 7th minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. With his leg Carlos Miguel managed to avoid a goal in the 11thth minute, when FC Draconia's Jerry Moerman fired away a shot with a lot of spin towards his right hand side. Jerry Moerman who was well placed in front of the goal fired away a dangerous shot that in the 18thth minute tested the skills of Carlos Miguel when he managed to save the team from getting behind. Jerry Moerman fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 22nd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Carlos Miguel having to interfere. GRÊMIO's Carlos Miguel proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 26th minute of the match, managed to save GRÊMIO from getting a goal against them. Jerry Moerman's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Carlos Miguel read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 29th minute of play. After some careless play in the GRÊMIO defense, Jerry Moerman kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Carlos Miguel. The GRÊMIO fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Carlos Miguel should have stopped the shot. Jerry Moermans short, quick shot in the 38thth minute got Carlos Miguel to make great effort and bar the ball away from getting in. Emanuel Van Damme lost his temper 40 minutes into the game and shoved another player to the ground. He was immediately shown a red card. A collision led to FC Draconia getting a freekick after 41 minutes play. Emanuel Van Damme hit a great ball. After a very even first half the match was still tied. The players went to their respective dressing rooms to discuss the tactics for the second half.

The wind increased when Etienne Langhmans made the kick off in the second half. In the 52nd minute Klaus Dhondt shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Carlos Miguel saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Carlos Miguel showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Jerry Moerman, who was totally free with the ball in the 60th minute. With a little luck, FC Draconia's Uwe Nwachukwu got control of the ball when Arí Terra tried to sneak it across the goal line. In the 63rd match minute, FC Draconia was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Klaus Dhondt to maneuver through the defense. 67 minutes into the match, FC Draconia's goal looked a bit too open when Liu Feng Guang came free, but Uwe Nwachukwu reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 70th minute Ettore Gaeta shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Uwe Nwachukwu saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. FC Draconia's Uwe Nwachukwu played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Ettore Gaeta in the 71st minute of play. When Klaus Dhondt came up free with the goalie in the 74th minute, the FC Draconia 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 Klaus Dhondt couldn't finish the play. Etienne Langhmans fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 78th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Carlos Miguel having to interfere. Ettore Gaeta struck a weak shot in the 92nd minute. Uwe Nwachukwu didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for GRÊMIO. The away crowd were delighted with the way their team had played and cheered loudly when the final whistle sounded. GRÊMIO walked away with the win, even though the match was close until the end.