U23 World League

Ibarsusi Stadium
Spectators: 7705 (Terracing: 5780, Seating: 1772, VIP seats: 153) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Liberto Merino got the match started through his kick off. 4 minutes into the match, FC Kurdistan's goal looked a bit too open when Gav Smith came free, but Mats Elg reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Mats Elg showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Gav Smith, who was totally free with the ball in the 4th minute. In the 6th minute, Med Gang hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Gav Smith's shot straight on target was not completely harmless. The ball had pretty good speed, but Mats Elg firmly grabbed it by the left post. 8 minutes into the game, Horacio Hernandez recieved a splendid long ball, split the defenders, and gently placed the ball to the left of Mats Elg. Horacio Hernandez showed that you don't have to tear a hole in the net to score, 1-0. Mats Elg was out of position in the 11 minute of play, and Liberto Merino capitalized on the mistake with a soft shot into the goal. Liberto Merino really showed his touch with that goal: 2-0. FC Kurdistan's Mats Elg proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 15th minute of the match, managed to save FC Kurdistan from getting a goal against them. Gav Smith kicked well hit freekick during the 16th minute of the match. After 18 played minutes FC Kurdistan got a freekick which was hit by Hans Hellström. After 19 minutes, Filipe Meneses mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Spartak de Txurdi and the FC Kurdistan players grew even worse after the yellow card. After 19 minutes of play, the referee blew the whistle. It was a penalty for Spartak de Txurdi! Gav Smith in the 25thth minute had a little luck and got a chance for a shot in front of the goal. Without hesitation aimed to the right of Mats Elg, who managed to lunge to the right direction and made a save. 26 minutes into the match, Eddie Andreasson notched a goal, 2-2, to the right of Spartak de Txurdi's Mikolaj Grunwalski. Mikolaj Grunwalski was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. When FC Kurdistan's Eddie Andreasson in the 33rd minute got a chance for a shot 33rd didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Spartak de Txurdi's goalie prevented a goal. The supporters of Spartak de Txurdi booed when FC Kurdistan was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 34 match minutes in a wonderful position. Med Gang didn't get a good kick on the ball. 38 minutes into the match, Spartak de Txurdi's goal looked a bit too open when Eddie Andreasson came free, but Mikolaj Grunwalski reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. The referee felt a red card was in order, 42 minutes into the game, when Claes Andreasson put in a rough tackle. Hans Hellström kicked well hit freekick during the 46th minute of the match. A collision led to Spartak de Txurdi getting a freekick after 47 minutes play. Ahmet Gökalp Taçkın hit a great ball.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Eddie Andreasson stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. After a defensive mix-up in Spartak de Txurdi's zone, Eddie Andreasson stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Mikolaj Grunwalski came out of the goal and Eddie Andreasson tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. If Eddie Andreasson had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 55th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Gav Smith took the ball and in the 58 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Mats Elg. Mats Elg dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 4-2. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Roger Forssell during the 63rd minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. After 63 played minutes FC Kurdistan got a freekick which was hit by Roger Forssell. FC Kurdistan's Jordan Peterson was substituted for Morgan Åkesson. FC Kurdistan's Fabian Lundström was substituted for Eddie Andreasson. In the 65th minute, Roger Forssell hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Spartak de Txurdi's Regis Jaen was substituted for Evelio Senin. Augusto Saavedra made in the 74th minute of the game a quick throw-in and Regis Jaen immediately put the ball in play. Mikolaj Grunwalski took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Fabian Lundström, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 83rd minute Roger Forssell shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Mikolaj Grunwalski saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Raymond Kalla's late challenge caught a FC Kurdistan's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Raymond Kalla helped the player get up and apologised. In the 90th minute Gav Smith shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Mats Elg saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 93rd minute, Gav Smith 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. After 95 minutes of play, FC Kurdistan's Fabian Lundström made it 4-3 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Mikolaj Grunwalski was left in no man's land by his defense there! The referee blew his whistle, and the match came to a close. The players exchanged shirts and headed down the tunnel. The Spartak de Txurdi fans cheered their team off the field, for while FC Kurdistan had put up a good fight, they were unable to come out of the game with any points to show for their effort.