U23 World League

Old Trafford
Spectators: 7734 (Terracing: 5802, Seating: 1778, VIP seats: 154) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Paavo Salmela took the kick off in the first half of the match. Juha Jokiranta showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Nils-Åke Sjö, who was totally free with the ball in the 3rd minute. 7 minutes into the match, Lost Boys Sports Academy's goalkeeper Sten Sture had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Paavo Salmela. Sten Sture showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Erik Cantona, who was totally free with the ball in the 9th minute. Sten Sture showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Erik Cantona in the 11th minute of the match. 13 minutes had been played when some careless play by Lost Boys Sports Academy's defense caused the ball to cross the line for a corner. Pirkka Rautee was slow to take the kick. During this time Manchester United FC's players had a chance to rest. Simon Johansson's late challenge caught a Manchester United FC's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Simon Johansson helped the player get up and apologised. The supporters of Manchester United FC booed when Lost Boys Sports Academy was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 20 match minutes in a wonderful position. Simon Johansson didn't get a good kick on the ball. Paavo Salmela took the ball and in the 22 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Sten Sture. Sten Sture dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 1-0. Sten Sture showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Pirkka Rautee, who was totally free with the ball in the 26th minute. After 34 minutes Lost Boys Sports Academy's defender was forced to head the ball over the line for a corner. It was Pirkka Rautee who took care of the corner kick. In the 35th minute, Karl Engström hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Veli Siivonen received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 37th minute. Sten Sture tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Sten Sture made a fantastic save in the 40th minute, when Paavo Salmela sent off a good shot on target. In the 42nd match minute, Manchester United FC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Kustaa Virtanen to maneuver through the defense. After a rather tough play, Manchester United FC's Kustaa Virtanen got a free kick in the 46th minute. No-one was surprised that the home team were leading 1-0 at half-time.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Joakim Sandberg to make the kick off. If Paavo Salmela had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 51st minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Sten Sture showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Paavo Salmela, who was totally free with the ball in the 54th minute. After 56 minutes, Karl Engström mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Lost Boys Sports Academy and the Manchester United FC players grew even worse after the yellow card. Karl Engström kicked well hit freekick during the 56th minute of the match. An unexpectedly hard shot by Erik Cantona in the 58th minute of play forced Lost Boys Sports Academy's goalkeeper Sten Sture to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. A throw-in in the 69th minute of the game was made by Kustaa Virtanen with Pirkka Rautee as target, who quickly passed the ball forward. Sten Sture took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Erik Cantona, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Sten Sture made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Paavo Salmela in the 73rd minute of play. In the 74th match minute, Lost Boys Sports Academy was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Simon Johansson to maneuver through the defense. After a rather tough play, Lost Boys Sports Academy's Thomas Stigsson got a free kick in the 75th minute. Pirkka Rautee recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 76th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. With 77 minutes on the clock, Tim Jönsson commited a dangerous tackle. The referee had no choice but to show him the red card. Sten Sture had in the 79thth minute some difficulties stopping Pirkka Rautee's well aimed penalty as it nearly passed him on his left side, but he still managed to hold the ball. 82 minutes into the match, Lost Boys Sports Academy's goal looked a bit too open when Pirkka Rautee came free, but Sten Sture reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Sten Sture came out of the goal in the 85th minute to try and stop a shot by Manchester United FC's Paavo Salmela. But to his dismay, Paavo Salmela quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 2-0. After 90 played minutes Manchester United FC got a freekick which was hit by Martti Helin. After 92 minutes of play, Manchester United FC's Erik Cantona made it 3-0 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Sten Sture was left in no man's land by his defense there! Sten Sture showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Paavo Salmela in the 98th minute of the match. There was no doubt that Manchester United FC were the better team. Manchester United FC's players enjoyed the ovations of the crowd after the victory.