U23 World League

Wanzbach Sportpark
Spectators: 7468 (Terracing: 5602, Seating: 1717, VIP seats: 149) Thomas Knoppertz started the match with the kick off in front of an excited audience. An unexpectedly hard shot by Biagio Di Matteo in the 7th minute of play forced Poli Timisoara's goalkeeper Thomas Schmuck to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. 8 minutes into the match, Supremacy Catania FC's goal looked a bit too open when Thomas Knoppertz came free, but Frank Di Maio reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 9th minute, Diego Arioli hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Biagio Di Matteo kicked well hit freekick during the 14th minute of the match. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Alberto Pelliccioni in the 19th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Thomas Schmuck prevented the ball from getting in the gole. 22 minutes into the match, Poli Timisoara's goal looked a bit too open when Alberto Pelliccioni came free, but Thomas Schmuck reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Poli Timisoara's Thomas Schmuck played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Bernardo Mastronardi in the 26th minute of play. The audience thought a goal was coming when Dominic Haug got free with Frank Di Maio in the 30th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Bernardo Mastronardi was probably a little too eager to shoot when he, in the 32nd played minute, shot the ball from way out. The shot was hard, but the ball flew wide of the goal. Jens-Uwe Lack fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 34th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Frank Di Maio having to interfere. Alberto Pelliccioni recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 40th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. After a very even first half the match was still tied. The players went to their respective dressing rooms to discuss the tactics for the second half.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Alberto Pelliccioni stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. After 53 minutes of play, Poli Timisoara's Thomas Knoppertz made it 2-1 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Frank Di Maio was left in no man's land by his defense there! Frank Di Maio showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Jens-Uwe Lack in the 58th minute of the match. Alberto Pelliccioni scored 3-2 in the 72nd match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Thomas Schmuck, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. A collision led to Supremacy Catania FC getting a freekick after 74 minutes play. Peppe Mascara hit a great ball. Frank Di Maio took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Jens-Uwe Lack, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Jens-Uwe Lack fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 81st minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Frank Di Maio having to interfere. In the 85th minute of the game Fausto Grande made a throw-in which Alberto Pelliccioni played forward. In the 87th minute Dominic Haug shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Frank Di Maio saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 93rd minute, Jens-Uwe Lack 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. There was no doubt that Poli Timisoara were the better team. Poli Timisoara's players enjoyed the ovations of the crowd after the victory.