U23 World League

The Clapham Oval
Spectators: 7674 (Terracing: 5756, Seating: 1765, VIP seats: 153) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when Yanis Devriendt kicked off to start the match. The audience thought a goal was coming when Cléberson Mendonça got free with Jozef Hemeleers in the 4th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. With 6 minutes on the clock, Samuel Van Acker commited a dangerous tackle. The referee had no choice but to show him the red card. After 6 minutes of play, the referee blew the whistle. It was a penalty for Winksele 2016! Winksele 2016:s Jozef Hemeleers showed great skill when he stopped Gavin Sedgemore:s penalty. Edward Preston took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Jens Vereyt, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Edward Preston didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Jens Vereyt went, in the 10th minute, to the upper right corner, 0-1 was the resulting score. Cléberson Mendonça kicked well hit freekick during the 12th minute of the match. Edward Preston made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Yanis Devriendt in the 13th minute of play. A collision led to Clapham Rovers getting a freekick after 16 minutes play. Gavin Sedgemore hit a great ball. Fabricio Burutzagi kicked well hit freekick during the 24th minute of the match. When Hugo Eekhout came up free with the goalie in the 26th minute, the Winksele 2016 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 Hugo Eekhout couldn't finish the play. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Yanis Devriendt in the 28th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Edward Preston prevented the ball from getting in the gole. 29 minutes into the match, Clapham Rovers's Cléberson Mendonça sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Jozef Hemeleers narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Edward Preston stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Yanis Devriendt's shot from short distance in the 30th minute. 32 minutes into the game, Cléberson Mendonça cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 1-1. Jozef Hemeleers was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. In the 35th minute, Robert Welch hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. The supporters of Winksele 2016 booed when Clapham Rovers was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 36 match minutes in a wonderful position. Cléberson Mendonça didn't get a good kick on the ball. After 37 minutes of play, Winksele 2016's Gertjan Koenens made it 1-2 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Edward Preston was left in no man's land by his defense there! When Hugo Eekhout fell near the penalty area in the 42nd minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Winksele 2016's protests and gave Hugo Eekhout a yellow card for diving instead. Edward Preston came out of the goal in the 46th minute to try and stop a shot by Winksele 2016's Jens Vereyt. But to his dismay, Jens Vereyt quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 1-3. After the first half Winksele 2016 were leading 1-3. They had played with great self confidence throughout the first half and fully deserved their lead.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Cléberson Mendonça stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. After having played for 54 minutes, Jens Vereyt managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Winksele 2016's supporters crossed their fingers, but Jens Vereyt was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. A collision led to Clapham Rovers getting a freekick after 56 minutes play. Gavin Sedgemore hit a great ball. Edward Preston didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Hugo Eekhout went, in the 71st minute, to the upper right corner, 2-4 was the resulting score. In the 74th minute, Cléberson Mendonça ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Jozef Hemeleers was frozen by the shot and now it was 3-4. Jens Vereyt received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 77th minute. Edward Preston tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. After a defensive mix-up in Clapham Rovers's zone, Yanis Devriendt stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Edward Preston came out of the goal and Yanis Devriendt tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. A hard shot 83 in the game by Yanis Devriendt from a close distance when the talented Edward Preston managed to make a qualified save. Clapham Rovers's players were relieved. If Jens Vereyt had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 86th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After a rather tough play, Clapham Rovers's Robert Welch got a free kick in the 89th minute. In the 92nd minute, Cléberson Mendonça left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The Clapham Rovers fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 4-4. Jozef Hemeleers took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Cléberson Mendonça, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Winksele 2016 were disappointed that they only managed a draw, even though they felt themselves to be the better team.