U23 World League

Gianfranco Zola
Spectators: 7522 (Terracing: 5642, Seating: 1730, VIP seats: 150) Chelsea AFC Boca Juniors's Cliff Gordon 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. When Chelsea AFC Boca Juniors's Cliff Gordon in the 6th minute got a chance for a shot 6th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Juventud Antoniana's goalie prevented a goal. 8 minutes into the match, Juventud Antoniana's goal looked a bit too open when Rio Fuller came free, but Celso Demario reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Rio Fuller received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 10th minute. Celso Demario tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. With his leg Celso Demario managed to avoid a goal in the 13thth minute, when Chelsea AFC Boca Juniors's Ashley Knight-Percival fired away a shot with a lot of spin towards his right hand side. In the 14th minute Chelsea AFC Boca Juniors were awarded a corner. Andrea Strano went to the cornerflag to take it. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Anselmo Bittor during the 17th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. Anselmo Bittor hit a great freekick 17 minutes into the match. Cliff Gordon's shot when he came free in front of the goal in the 19thth minute, Celso Demario skillfully showed off with a save to what seemed to be an obvious goal. Celso Demario stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Cliff Gordon's shot from short distance in the 19th minute. In the 20th minute Rigoberto Mannie shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Dan Elwick saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Israel Oihenarte hit a great freekick 31 minutes into the match. When Mauro Fernado fell near the penalty area in the 34th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Juventud Antoniana's protests and gave Mauro Fernado a yellow card for diving instead. After 34 played minutes Juventud Antoniana got a freekick which was hit by Mauro Fernado. Cliff Gordon's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Celso Demario read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 34th minute of play. Juventud Antoniana's Celso Demario played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Cliff Gordon in the 37th minute of play. After a defensive mix-up in Juventud Antoniana's zone, Rio Fuller stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Celso Demario came out of the goal and Rio Fuller tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Dan Elwick showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Ciriaco Seber in the 43rd minute of the match. Jonas Sanduru kicked well hit freekick during the 45th minute of the match. The audience was convinced that Cliff Gordon's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Celso Demario was relentless in the 47th minute of the game. Henry Warne kicked well hit freekick during the 49th minute of the match. The crowd was extremely unhappy with the home team's performance in the first half. They were losing 0-1.

Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Ashley Knight-Percival in the 57th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Celso Demario prevented the ball from getting in the gole. Celso Demario showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Cliff Gordon, who was totally free with the ball in the 58th minute. When Eugenio Hernando fell near the penalty area in the 61st minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Juventud Antoniana's protests and gave Eugenio Hernando a yellow card for diving instead. In the 61st minute, Eugenio Hernando hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Rigoberto Mannie sent away a hard shot on goal in the 63rd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Kirk Perkins during the 64th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. In the 64th minute, Kirk Perkins hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Mauro Fernado hit a great freekick 71 minutes into the match. After 73 played minutes, Chelsea AFC Boca Juniors's Edmondo Pan shot from a long distance, and at first it looked like the ball was going into the goal, but the goalkeeper Celso Demario 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 Chelsea AFC Boca Juniors reached it. After having played for 73 minutes, Rigoberto Mannie managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Juventud Antoniana's supporters crossed their fingers, but Rigoberto Mannie was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Celso Demario made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Cliff Gordon in the 75th minute of play. In the 77th minute Chelsea AFC Boca Juniors were awarded a corner. Andrea Strano went to the cornerflag to take it. After 81 played minutes Chelsea AFC Boca Juniors got a freekick which was hit by Charlie Monk. 84 minutes into the match, Juventud Antoniana's Mauro Fernado sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Dan Elwick narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Dan Elwick didn't succeed in stopping the ball in the 84th minute, which inside left pole to 1-2. The Juventud Antoniana supporters could be heard counting down the last seconds of the match. They errupted in celebration when the whistle blew, knowing Juventud Antoniana would go home with victory in their luggage after a match that easily could have ended differently.