U23 World League

NATIONAL ARENA
Spectators: 7651 (Terracing: 5740, Seating: 1759, VIP seats: 152) The mood of the audience was pleasant when Liu Feng Guang made the kick off which started today's match. Carlos Miguel stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Hermengildo Jobo's shot from short distance in the 3rd minute. Nelson Mendoza'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 9th minute of play. 17 minutes into the match, GRÊMIO's goal looked a bit too open when Emanuel Gheorghe came free, but Carlos Miguel reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. GRÊMIO's Carlos Miguel proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 19th minute of the match, managed to save GRÊMIO from getting a goal against them. After a rather tough play, GRÊMIO's Jardel Cearense got a free kick in the 23rd minute. In the 28th minute, UFC STEAUA's Emanuel Gheorghe dribbled the ball into the box and hit a shot with the outside of his foot, sending the keeper the wrong way. 1-0. With 31 minutes on the clock, Enaut Ziguenza commited a dangerous tackle. The referee had no choice but to show him the red card. After 31 minutes of play, the referee blew the whistle. It was a penalty for UFC STEAUA! UFC STEAUA:s Ernest Obreja showed great skill when he stopped Tyson Touro:s penalty. The excitement rose when GRÊMIO's Tyson Touro after 34 played minutes turned away three defenders near the goal, and after that shot a ball that was too difficult for UFC STEAUA's goalkeeper to hold. Score! 1-1. Hermengildo Jobo'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 42nd minute of play. When Elpidio Gai fell near the penalty area in the 45th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored GRÊMIO's protests and gave Elpidio Gai a yellow card for diving instead. The supporters of UFC STEAUA booed when GRÊMIO was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 45 match minutes in a wonderful position. Elpidio Gai didn't get a good kick on the ball. The first half was very even, with the score at 1-1 when the whistle went for half-time. The players welcomed the break and quickly retired to the dressing rooms.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Therkild Prendorf was the one to do the kick off. In the 58th minute Therkild Prendorf 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. After 59 played minutes UFC STEAUA got a freekick which was hit by Corneliu Hurezeanu. Tyson Touro, 60 minutes into the match, dribbled the ball up the side of the field and decided to take a long shot at the goal. Unfortunately, the ball was poorly hit and landed closer to the corner than to the goal. Jardel Cearense sent away a hard shot on goal in the 61st minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. In the 67th match minute, GRÊMIO was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Liu Feng Guang to maneuver through the defense. A collision led to GRÊMIO getting a freekick after 67 minutes play. Lino da Costa hit a great ball. GRÊMIO's Carlos Miguel played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Hermengildo Jobo in the 69th minute of play. Hermengildo Jobo sent away a hard shot on goal in the 71st minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. GRÊMIO's Carlos Miguel played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Hermengildo Jobo in the 71st minute of play. In the 77th minute UFC STEAUA were awarded a corner. Nelson Mendoza went to the cornerflag to take it. Ernest Obreja made a fantastic save in the 80th minute, when Arí Terra sent off a good shot on target. When Jardel Cearense came up free with the goalie in the 81st minute, the GRÊMIO 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 Jardel Cearense couldn't finish the play. Ernest Obreja showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Elpidio Gai in the 83rd minute of the match. Hermengildo Jobo fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 89th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Carlos Miguel having to interfere. GRÊMIO's Carlos Miguel played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Emanuel Gheorghe in the 92nd minute of play. After 95 minutes, Lino da Costa mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the GRÊMIO and the UFC STEAUA players grew even worse after the yellow card. The referee blew the whistle for a penalty in the 94th minute of the game. One of GRÊMIO:s players had nearly got his shirt torn off by an opponent while getting free in front of UFC STEAUA:s goal. Carlos Miguel had in the 96thth minute some difficulties stopping Nelson Mendoza's well aimed penalty as it nearly passed him on his left side, but he still managed to hold the ball. 96 minutes into the game, Nelson Mendoza cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 2-1. Carlos Miguel was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. The crowd rose to their feet and cheered when the referee blew the final whistle. UFC STEAUA had won after a very even match.