U23 World League

Golden Park II
Spectators: 7658 (Terracing: 5745, Seating: 1761, VIP seats: 152) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Claudio Biaggio got the match started through his kick off. Franco Costanzo showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Antoine Norton, who was totally free with the ball in the 3rd minute. After a defensive mix-up in El Golden Volvió!'s zone, Antoine Norton stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Franco Costanzo came out of the goal and Antoine Norton tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Emanuel Bazinet was in the perfect position, and the defense had done a good job marking him, but Claudio Biaggio showcased his skills and made a perfect shot to score 1-0 in the 7 minute of play. After having played for 12 minutes, Antoine Norton managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Sport Lisboa e Benfica's supporters crossed their fingers, but Antoine Norton was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. 14 minutes into the game, Sport Lisboa e Benfica's Antoine Norton nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Franco Costanzo made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 1-1. Franco Costanzo showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Dominic Hahn in the 16th minute of the match. Sport Lisboa e Benfica were awarded a corner in the 18th minute after El Golden Volvió!'s defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Marquis Hopper took the corner. The corner ended in Marquis Hopper almost managing to get the ball behind the net, but El Golden Volvió!'s Franco Costanzo did a great save. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Antoine Norton in the 20th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Franco Costanzo saved El Golden Volvió! from getting behind. Antoine Norton's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Franco Costanzo read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 21st minute of play. After 29 minutes El Golden Volvió!'s defender was forced to head the ball over the line for a corner. It was Marquis Hopper who took care of the corner kick. Cristobal Haimar hit a great freekick 36 minutes into the match. 41 minutes into the match, Antoine Norton notched a goal, 1-3, to the right of El Golden Volvió!'s Franco Costanzo. Franco Costanzo was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. Antoine Norton scored 1-4 in the 45th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Franco Costanzo, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. Even after changing tactics the home team jogged off the field with a 1-4 deficit. They would have to work harder if they wanted to turn things around in the second half.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Antoine Norton stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. 54 minutes had been played when some careless play by El Golden Volvió!'s defense caused the ball to cross the line for a corner. Marquis Hopper was slow to take the kick. During this time Sport Lisboa e Benfica's players had a chance to rest. With his leg Franco Costanzo managed to avoid a goal in the 55thth minute, when Sport Lisboa e Benfica's Antoine Norton fired away a shot with a lot of spin towards his right hand side. El Golden Volvió!'s defense didn't have a chance, in the 60th minute, when Antoine Norton scored to the left of an out of position Franco Costanzo, making the score, 1-5. The crowd rose to their feet as Antoine Norton kicked a wonderful shot that went in to the left of a diving Franco Costanzo. That made the score 1-6 in the 63 minute of play. 68 minutes into the match, El Golden Volvió!'s goalkeeper Franco Costanzo had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Antoine Norton. Franco Costanzo made an important save on a dangerous shot by Antoine Norton in the 75th minute. Franco Costanzo made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Antoine Norton in the 77th minute of play. In the 79th minute the ball was on its way in behind El Golden Volvió!'s goalkeeper Franco Costanzo, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. The audience thought a goal was coming when Antoine Norton got free with Franco Costanzo in the 81st minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. In the 84th minute, Antoine Norton 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. Antoine Norton could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 92nd minute of the match, but Franco Costanzo made a huge save. After 95 played minutes Sport Lisboa e Benfica got a freekick which was hit by Art Solomon. When the match was over Sport Lisboa e Benfica could go home with a victory in their luggage, having controlled the game far better than El Golden Volvió! throughout the match.