U23 World League

THE RED MACHINE
Spectators: 7541 (Terracing: 5657, Seating: 1734, VIP seats: 150) GangsTaz F. C.'s Nestor Taurino 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. After 5 played minutes, GangsTaz F. C.'s Jose Ignado shot from a long distance, and at first it looked like the ball was going into the goal, but the goalkeeper Enrique Lekubegi came through and got his fingers on the ball before it flew over the goal line. He then quickly gripped the ball tighter before the forwards in GangsTaz F. C. reached it. When GangsTaz F. C.'s Nestor Taurino in the 9th minute got a chance for a shot 9th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Palermo's goalie prevented a goal. Rafael Hondo received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 10th minute. Natalio Basualdo tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Through an outstanding action, after 15 minutes, Natalio Basualdo successfully got his hands on the ball before it slid into the goal at the right post. When Rafael Hondo came up free with the goalie in the 18th minute, the Palermo 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 Rafael Hondo couldn't finish the play. Donato Vachon received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 23rd minute. Natalio Basualdo tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. After 25 minutes, Urbano Claus mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the GangsTaz F. C. and the Palermo players grew even worse after the yellow card. A collision led to GangsTaz F. C. getting a freekick after 25 minutes play. Urbano Claus hit a great ball. 27 minutes had been played when some careless play by GangsTaz F. C.'s defense caused the ball to cross the line for a corner. Ulises Hernandez was slow to take the kick. During this time Palermo's players had a chance to rest. A well-hit corner resulted in Donato Vachon heading the ball towards the goal, but to his dismay he misdirected it and missed the goal completely. Nicanor Gaufred sent away a hard shot on goal in the 29th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. GangsTaz F. C.'s Natalio Basualdo proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 31st minute of the match, managed to save GangsTaz F. C. from getting a goal against them. Palermo were awarded a corner in the 32th minute after GangsTaz F. C.'s defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Ulises Hernandez took the corner. After having played for 33 minutes, Nestor Taurino managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. GangsTaz F. C.'s supporters crossed their fingers, but Nestor Taurino was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. After some careless play in the GangsTaz F. C. defense, Rafael Hondo kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Natalio Basualdo. The GangsTaz F. C. fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Natalio Basualdo should have stopped the shot. Anibal Dolfo hit a great freekick 46 minutes into the match. All the noise was coming from the home fans when the whistle went for half-time. The home team had fought hardest to put themselves in a deserved lead.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Donato Vachon made a kick off. Lorenzo Ongile kicked well hit freekick during the 52nd minute of the match. If Donato Vachon had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 56th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. After a rather tough play, GangsTaz F. C.'s Fabio Beltza got a free kick in the 59th minute. 62 minutes into the game, Jose Ignado was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. GangsTaz F. C.'s manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Palermo the free kick. In the 62nd match minute, GangsTaz F. C. was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Jose Ignado to maneuver through the defense. Donato Vachon fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 63rd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Natalio Basualdo having to interfere. After having played for 67 minutes, Vicente Hermon managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. GangsTaz F. C.'s supporters crossed their fingers, but Vicente Hermon was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. In the 69th minute, Anibal Dolfo hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Ulises Hernandez blasted a shot towards the goal in the 70th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Natalio Basualdo having to make a save. Natalio Basualdo made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Donato Vachon in the 73rd minute of play. Enrique Lekubegi made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Paolo Gartzi in the 76th minute of play. After a defensive mix-up in Palermo's zone, Vicente Hermon stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Enrique Lekubegi came out of the goal and Vicente Hermon tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. The supporters of GangsTaz F. C. booed when Palermo was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 78 match minutes in a wonderful position. Julian Birila didn't get a good kick on the ball. Vicente Hermon struck a weak shot in the 80th minute. Enrique Lekubegi didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for GangsTaz F. C.. Lisandro Argi hit a great freekick 81 minutes into the match. Rafael Hondo succeeded in the game's 84th minute to shoot an unreachable shot under the crossbar and scored - 2-0. Donato Vachon fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 87th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Natalio Basualdo having to interfere. Rafael Hondo struck a weak shot in the 88th minute. Natalio Basualdo didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Palermo. With a little luck, Palermo's Enrique Lekubegi got control of the ball when Paolo Gartzi tried to sneak it across the goal line. When Vicente Hermon fell near the penalty area in the 91st minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored GangsTaz F. C.'s protests and gave Vicente Hermon a yellow card for diving instead. Vicente Hermon kicked well hit freekick during the 92nd minute of the match. It was no surprise that this one had ended in a win for the home team. Palermo had played much better football throughout.