U23 World League

City Palace Stadium
Spectators: 7519 (Terracing: 5640, Seating: 1729, VIP seats: 150) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Ernesto Margoni got the match started through his kick off. After a defensive mix-up in Kroton F.C.'s zone, Alejo Papo stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Elia Losito came out of the goal and Alejo Papo tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Vladimiro Leobardo took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Ernesto Margoni, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. An unexpectedly hard shot by Ernesto Margoni in the 16th minute of play forced Cardiff City FC's goalkeeper Vladimiro Leobardo to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. After 22 played minutes Kroton F.C. got a freekick which was hit by Comunardo Della Francesca. 25 minutes into the game, one of Kroton F.C.:s players got tackled near the goal, and the referee blew for a penalty. Kroton F.C.:s Elia Losito showed great skill when he stopped Lázaro Efraim:s penalty. The audience was convinced that Enzo Scacchi's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Vladimiro Leobardo was relentless in the 29th minute of the game. In the 34th minute Enzo Scacchi shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Vladimiro Leobardo saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Alejo Papo sent away a hard shot on goal in the 35th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. The audience was convinced that Ernesto Margoni's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Vladimiro Leobardo was relentless in the 36th minute of the game. The crowd was extremely unhappy with the home team's performance in the first half. They were losing 0-1.

The wind increased when Alejo Papo made the kick off in the second half. After 53 played minutes Cardiff City FC got a freekick which was hit by Camilo Fagondo. In the 62nd match minute, Kroton F.C. was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Corrado Ascani to maneuver through the defense. After having played for 63 minutes, Esteban Vimaro managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Cardiff City FC's supporters crossed their fingers, but Esteban Vimaro 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 67th minute Enzo Scacchi shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Vladimiro Leobardo saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Kroton F.C.'s Elia Losito played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Esteban Vimaro in the 73rd minute of play. Esteban Vimaro's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Elia Losito read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 75th minute of play. When Alejo Papo fell near the penalty area in the 81st minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Cardiff City FC's protests and gave Alejo Papo a yellow card for diving instead. In the 81st minute, Alejo Papo hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. In the 88th minute, Cardiff City FC's goalie took a deep sigh of relief after Ernesto Margoni fired away a hard shot that went just outside the left post. The audience thought a goal was coming when Enzo Scacchi got free with Vladimiro Leobardo in the 94th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. When the match was over Kroton F.C. could go home with a victory in their luggage, having controlled the game far better than Cardiff City FC throughout the match.