U23 World League

Darcy Ribeiro
Spectators: 7503 (Terracing: 5628, Seating: 1726, VIP seats: 149) Paul Romeo started the match with the kick off in front of an excited audience. Miguel Fontes, 9 minutes into the match, dribbled the ball up the side of the field and decided to take a long shot at the goal. Unfortunately, the ball was poorly hit and landed closer to the corner than to the goal. 10 minutes into the game, Bratan Vladikov was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Botev Plovdiv 1912's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Clube Audax Metropolitano the free kick. After some fancy dribbling in the 13th minute, Miguel Fontes managed to get in a good position for a shot. Clube Audax Metropolitano's supporters rose to their feet, but Miguel Fontes was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Stayko Kalugerov breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Falcão Severo took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Ognyan Filipov, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. If Vasil Shterionov had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 17th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Bruninho Araújo's late challenge caught a Botev Plovdiv 1912's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Bruninho Araújo helped the player get up and apologised. After a rather tough play, Clube Audax Metropolitano's Bruninho Araújo got a free kick in the 20th minute. In the 24th match minute, Clube Audax Metropolitano was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Hélio Loureiro to maneuver through the defense. In the 27th match minute, Clube Audax Metropolitano was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Tomás Borges to maneuver through the defense. After having played for 29 minutes, Vasil Shterionov managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Botev Plovdiv 1912's supporters crossed their fingers, but Vasil Shterionov was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. The supporters of Clube Audax Metropolitano booed when Botev Plovdiv 1912 was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 32 match minutes in a wonderful position. Bilyan Sapunarov didn't get a good kick on the ball. Vasil Shterionov kicked well hit freekick during the 35th minute of the match. Clube Audax Metropolitano's Falcão Severo played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Paul Romeo in the 38th minute of play. Falcão Severo came out of the goal in the 39th minute to try and stop a shot by Botev Plovdiv 1912's Ognyan Filipov. But to his dismay, Ognyan Filipov quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 0-1. Botev Plovdiv 1912's Stayko Kalugerov proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 43rd minute of the match, managed to save Botev Plovdiv 1912 from getting a goal against them. In the 45th minute Tomás Borges shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Stayko Kalugerov saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. With an all-out effort, Clube Audax Metropolitano's Stayko Kalugerov threw himself towards the right post 45 minutes into the match and grabbed hold of the ball from Tomás Borges, which otherwise would have been placed in the net. Even after changing tactics the home team jogged off the field with a 0-1 deficit. They would have to work harder if they wanted to turn things around in the second half.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Tomás Borges made a kick off. 52 minutes into the match, Clube Audax Metropolitano's goalkeeper Falcão Severo had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Ognyan Filipov. Falcão Severo made an important save on a dangerous shot by Ognyan Filipov in the 55th minute. When Botev Plovdiv 1912's Paul Romeo in the 56th minute got a chance for a shot 56th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Clube Audax Metropolitano's goalie prevented a goal. Falcão Severo took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Paul Romeo, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 60th minute, Miguel Fontes hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Clube Audax Metropolitano made a substitution. Sílvio Luís Pimenta replaced Germano Gerber. Falcão Severo took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Paul Romeo, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. 65 minutes into the game, Valko Mitin cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 0-2. Falcão Severo was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. Botev Plovdiv 1912's attacker deliberately struck the ball against an opponent to win a corner for his team. The corner was taken by Velyo Vidolov in the 71st minute. The corner led Botev Plovdiv 1912's Velyo Vidolov to fire away a dangerous shot which Falcão Severo despite some difficulties managed to get hold on the ball. A collision led to Botev Plovdiv 1912 getting a freekick after 74 minutes play. Vencho Ushkolov hit a great ball. 0-3 became the score in the 76th minute when Paul Romeo elegantly shot the ball into goal just under the crossbar. Falcão Severo didn't succeed to prevent the ball from going into goal when Botev Plovdiv 1912's Paul Romeo shot an unexpected shot in the crossbar's under edge and made 0-4 in the ordered_time% minute. Stayko Kalugerov took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Victor Mattos, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. With an all-out effort, Botev Plovdiv 1912's Falcão Severo threw himself towards the right post 90 minutes into the match and grabbed hold of the ball from Paul Romeo, which otherwise would have been placed in the net. A collision led to Botev Plovdiv 1912 getting a freekick after 91 minutes play. Vencho Ushkolov hit a great ball. Stayko Kalugerov showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Tomás Borges, who was totally free with the ball in the 94th minute. The referee blew the whistle for a penalty in the 95th minute of the game. One of Botev Plovdiv 1912:s players had nearly got his shirt torn off by an opponent while getting free in front of Clube Audax Metropolitano:s goal. In the 99th minute there was a penalty for Clube Audax Metropolitano. Miguel Fontes stepped forward and shot the ball to the right of a diving Stayko Kalugerov. 1-4. The Clube Audax Metropolitano supporters were disappointed that their team didn't take anything from the match, despite matching Botev Plovdiv 1912's performance. The match ended with a win for Botev Plovdiv 1912.