U23 World League

Stade
Spectators: 7750 (Terracing: 5814, Seating: 1782, VIP seats: 154) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Paavo Salmela started the match with the kick off. Paulo Louineau struck a weak shot in the 3rd minute. Juha Jokiranta didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Cats and dogs. Juha Jokiranta showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Christophe Montaigne in the 9th minute of the match. 12 minutes into the match, Manchester United FC's Paavo Salmela sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Gaétan Toullec narrowly saved just below the crossbar. An unexpectedly hard shot by Veli Siivonen in the 15th minute of play forced Cats and dogs's goalkeeper Gaétan Toullec to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 23rd minute, Veli Siivonen ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Gaétan Toullec was frozen by the shot and now it was 0-1. After having played for 27 minutes, Erik Cantona managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Manchester United FC's supporters crossed their fingers, but Erik Cantona was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Gaétan Toullec showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Erik Cantona in the 29th minute of the match. Veli Siivonen kicked well hit freekick during the 29th minute of the match. Juha Jokiranta took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Christophe Montaigne, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. 32 minutes had been played when some careless play by Manchester United FC's defense caused the ball to cross the line for a corner. Augustin Boulnois was slow to take the kick. During this time Cats and dogs's players had a chance to rest. After taking down the ball on Cats and dogs's corner Augustin Boulnois fired away a hard shot, but the defenders efficiently covered the most dangerous angles and Juha Jokiranta quite easily take care of the ball. In the 33rd minute, Sébastien Romero hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Cats and dogs's Gaétan Toullec played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Erik Cantona in the 36th minute of play. Paulo Louineau fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 38th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Juha Jokiranta having to interfere. Juha Jokiranta made an important save on a dangerous shot by Tony Jérémie in the 39th minute. In the 44th minute, Isaac Cassou left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The Cats and dogs fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 1-1. If Paulo Louineau had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 47th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After fighting hard for a draw in the first half, the players were able to take a much needed rest.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Christophe Montaigne was the one to do the kick off. Paulo Louineau scored 3-1 in the 54th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Juha Jokiranta, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. 66 minutes had been played when some careless play by Cats and dogs'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. The audience was convinced that Christophe Montaigne's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Juha Jokiranta was relentless in the 76th minute of the game. An unexpectedly hard shot by Erik Cantona in the 78th minute of play forced Cats and dogs's goalkeeper Gaétan Toullec to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Veli Siivonen could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 79th minute of the match, but Gaétan Toullec made a huge save. An unexpectedly hard shot by Paulo Louineau in the 81st minute of play forced Manchester United FC's goalkeeper Juha Jokiranta to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. After 84 minutes, Paulo Louineau mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Cats and dogs and the Manchester United FC players grew even worse after the yellow card. The supporters of Manchester United FC booed when Cats and dogs was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 84 match minutes in a wonderful position. Paulo Louineau didn't get a good kick on the ball. Isaac Cassou sent away a hard shot on goal in the 87th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Kustaa Vappula hit a great freekick 88 minutes into the match. In the 93rd minute of the match, Erik Cantona tried to roll the ball into the goal by the right post, but Gaétan Toullec saw his intentions and got control of the ball before it passed the line. Paulo Louineau recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 95th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Cats and dogs were really happy, having secured the victory after a very even contest. They thanked the players of Manchester United FC for a fine match.