U23 World League

Kalahari Desert
Spectators: 7746 (Terracing: 5811, Seating: 1781, VIP seats: 154) Meerkats FC's Leonard Calleja started the match with a crisp pass. The crowd had been anticipating this game for weeks and the excitement in the stadium was easily visible. Eusebiu Ianculescu scored 0-1 in the 2nd match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Frederick Scicluna, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. Remus Vuia made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Zach Testaferrata Viani in the 11th minute of play. A collision led to Meerkats FC getting a freekick after 15 minutes play. Christopher Bugelli hit a great ball. In the 16th minute, Iordache Ioneasa 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 some careless play in the Meerkats FC defense, Jack Ares kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Frederick Scicluna. The Meerkats FC fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Frederick Scicluna should have stopped the shot. Frederick Scicluna took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Jack Ares, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. After some fancy dribbling in the 24th minute, Leonard Calleja managed to get in a good position for a shot. Meerkats FC's supporters rose to their feet, but Leonard Calleja was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Remus Vuia breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. When the match had gone on for 25 minutes, Eusebiu Ianculescu put it in 0-3 from a short distance just to the right of Frederick Scicluna. 33 minutes into the game, Granicerul's Eusebiu Ianculescu nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Frederick Scicluna made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 0-4. 36 minutes into the match, Meerkats FC's goal looked a bit too open when Eusebiu Ianculescu came free, but Frederick Scicluna reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After some careless play in the Meerkats FC defense, Jack Ares kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Frederick Scicluna. The Meerkats FC fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Frederick Scicluna should have stopped the shot. Granicerul's Eusebiu Ianculescu got a good chance for a goal in the 39th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Iordache Ioneasa charged in rather forcefully in the 41st minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Iordache Ioneasa the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. After a rather tough play, Granicerul's Iordache Ioneasa got a free kick in the 41st minute. An unexpectedly hard shot by Leonard Calleja in the 48th minute of play forced Granicerul's goalkeeper Remus Vuia to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. After the first half Granicerul were leading 0-5. 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 Eusebiu Ianculescu stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. Remus Vuia took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Leonard Calleja, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Meerkats FC's Frederick Scicluna played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Manole Colin in the 54th minute of play. 65 minutes into the match, Meerkats FC's goal looked a bit too open when Valeriu Zoreanu came free, but Frederick Scicluna reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Granicerul made a substitution. Codrin Olaru replaced Eusebiu Ianculescu. Iordache Ioneasa hit a great freekick 69 minutes into the match. The supporters of Meerkats FC booed when Granicerul was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 72 match minutes in a wonderful position. Andrei Florei didn't get a good kick on the ball. When Leonard Calleja came up free with the goalie in the 73rd minute, the Meerkats FC 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 Leonard Calleja couldn't finish the play. Codrin Olaru fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 79th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Frederick Scicluna having to interfere. Zach Testaferrata Viani kicked well hit freekick during the 85th minute of the match. A collision led to Meerkats FC getting a freekick after 96 minutes play. Christopher Bugelli hit a great ball. In the 97th minute, Granicerul's Jack Ares dribbled the ball into the box and hit a shot with the outside of his foot, sending the keeper the wrong way. 0-8. The referee blew the final whistle, and the away crowd roared, having watched Granicerul eke out a victory against a very well matched opponent.