U23 World League

NATIONAL ARENA
Spectators: 7669 (Terracing: 5752, Seating: 1764, VIP seats: 153) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Nelson Mendoza took the kick off in the first half of the match. 3 minutes into the game, FC Draconia's Ief De Groote nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Ernest Obreja made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 0-1. Ief De Groote might have been able to make a better finish in the 6th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Ernest Obreja. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Ief De Groote ran back to his position shaking his head. With a little luck, FC Draconia's Uwe Nwachukwu got control of the ball when Nelson Mendoza tried to sneak it across the goal line. If Ief De Groote had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 18th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. After 20 minutes of play, FC Draconia's Ief De Groote made it 0-2 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Ernest Obreja was left in no man's land by his defense there! Ernest Obreja made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Ief De Groote in the 24th minute of play. 26 minutes into the match, FC Draconia's goalkeeper Uwe Nwachukwu had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Rafet Faydalı. 30 minutes into the game, Ief De Groote cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 0-3. Ernest Obreja was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. FC Draconia's Uwe Nwachukwu played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Hermengildo Jobo in the 34th minute of play. Uwe Nwachukwu didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Hermengildo Jobo went, in the 34th minute, to the upper right corner, 1-3 was the resulting score. Ief De Groote blasted a shot towards the goal in the 42nd minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Ernest Obreja having to make a save. UFC STEAUA's Ernest Obreja played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Ief De Groote in the 45th minute of play.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Etienne Langhmans stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. Ernest Obreja took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Etienne Langhmans, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. The throw-in from Mircea Dersidan in the 53rd minute of the game was unfortunally taken care of by FC Draconia's Teo De Kelper. Uwe Nwachukwu showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Nelson Mendoza, who was totally free with the ball in the 55th minute. Etienne Langhmans sent away a hard shot on goal in the 56th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Emanuel Gheorghe hit a great freekick 58 minutes into the match. A collision led to FC Draconia getting a freekick after 60 minutes play. Etienne Langhmans hit a great ball. 62 minutes into the match, FC Draconia's goal looked a bit too open when Nelson Mendoza came free, but Uwe Nwachukwu reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. 69 minutes in the game Mircea Dersidan did a throw-in, and the ball was quickly in game thanks to Nelson Mendoza. 71 minutes into the game, Mircea Dersidan threw the ball into play from the sideline. FC Draconia's Teo De Kelper quickly snatched the ball and retained possesion. After a rather tough play, UFC STEAUA's Hermengildo Jobo got a free kick in the 72nd minute. 75 minutes into the match, FC Draconia's goal looked a bit too open when Nelson Mendoza came free, but Uwe Nwachukwu reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. An unexpectedly hard shot by Nelson Mendoza in the 77th minute of play forced FC Draconia's goalkeeper Uwe Nwachukwu to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Uwe Nwachukwu showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Hermengildo Jobo in the 78th minute of the match. Hermengildo Jobo fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 82nd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Uwe Nwachukwu having to interfere. Mircea Dersidan made in the 84th minute of the game a sloppy throw-in which Nelson Mendoza however managed to control. Ief De Groote sent away a hard shot on goal in the 86th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. 96 minutes into the game, UFC STEAUA's Nelson Mendoza nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Uwe Nwachukwu made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 2-3. The FC Draconia players were relieved to hear the final whistle blow to end the match. The away crowd was happy to see their team win after a very tight game.