U23 World League

The Duck Pen
Spectators: 7446 (Terracing: 5586, Seating: 1712, VIP seats: 148) Almir Loureiro started the match with the kick off in front of an excited audience. John Hassell hit a great freekick 3 minutes into the match. In the 4th minute of the match Almir Loureiro shot from a long distance. The ball could have gone into the goal to the right of the goalkeeper, but Ronan Marler showed his good shape when he easily got hold of the ball. The crowd rose to their feet as Real Death Ducks's Lawrence Banks slotted home a wonderful shot that went in to the left of Luisão Seco. That made the score 1-0 after 9 minutes of play. The supporters of Mexilhão F. C. booed when Real Death Ducks was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 13 match minutes in a wonderful position. Darius Astridge didn't get a good kick on the ball. The audience was convinced that Lawrence Banks's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Luisão Seco was relentless in the 16th minute of the game. In a very dangerous position, a player in Real Death Ducks fell when an opponent tried to get the ball from him in the 17th minute. Penalty! 22 minutes into the match, Real Death Ducks's goal looked a bit too open when João Francisco Mendes came free, but Ronan Marler reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After having played for 24 minutes, Almir Loureiro managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Mexilhão F. C.'s supporters crossed their fingers, but Almir Loureiro was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Jean de Moraes charged in rather forcefully in the 28th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Jean de Moraes the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. Jean de Moraes hit a great freekick 28 minutes into the match. Almir Loureiro sent away a hard shot on goal in the 32nd minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. The supporters of Mexilhão F. C. booed when Real Death Ducks was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 35 match minutes in a wonderful position. Isaac Harrison didn't get a good kick on the ball. Lawrence Banks recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 38th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. In the 45th minute, one of Real Death Ducks:s players had the ball in front of the goal but got pushed and fell. The referee felt it was an obvious case and blew a penalty for Real Death Ducks. Disappointed in the 1-2 score, the home team went to the dressing room to adjust tactics for the second half.

The wind increased when Jermaine Brearley made the kick off in the second half. In the 55th minute Almir Loureiro shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Ronan Marler saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Ronan Marler showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Almir Loureiro, who was totally free with the ball in the 60th minute. In the 61st minute of the match Mexilhão F. C. got a corner. Real Death Ducks's goalie ran out to the linesman to protest the call, but the linesman resolutely pointed his flag at the cornerflag. Almir Loureiro ran over to the corner to take the kick. Almir Loureiro blasted a shot towards the goal in the 66th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Ronan Marler having to make a save. Ronan Marler was a little too slow when Almir Loureiro got a fine hit on the ball which went right into the goal in the 69th minute. The score was now 1-3. Ronan Marler was in the perfect position, and the defense had done a good job marking him, but Jean de Moraes showcased his skills and made a perfect shot to score 1-4 in the 73 minute of play. Deon Sheridan kicked well hit freekick during the 79th minute of the match. Ronan Marler made an important save on a dangerous shot by João Francisco Mendes in the 84th minute. Jermaine Brearley sent away a hard shot on goal in the 86th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. 90 minutes into the match, Real Death Ducks's goalkeeper Ronan Marler had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Jean de Moraes. Ronan Marler made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Jean de Moraes in the 95th minute of play.