U23 World League

Alberto J. Armando
Spectators: 7659 (Terracing: 5746, Seating: 1761, VIP seats: 152) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Urbano Sagrario started the match with the kick off. If Calistrat Şerbănescu had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 2nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Gustavo Goito during the 4th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. After a rather tough play, Franja Dorada's Aquilino Tajo got a free kick in the 8th minute. Florentino Rito kicked well hit freekick during the 15th minute of the match. After 17 minutes, Tiberiu Rotariu mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the PHOENIX Cluj-Napoca and the Franja Dorada players grew even worse after the yellow card. Tiberiu Rotariu hit a great freekick 17 minutes into the match. In the 20th minute Gustavo Goito shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Vlad Covrig saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 21st minute Franja Dorada were awarded a corner. Urbano Sagrario went to the cornerflag to take it. Franja Dorada's Urbano Sagrario was first on the ball when the corner was shot and he dangerously headed the ball towards goal, but Vlad Covrig in the goal jumped up to prevent it from getting in. When Gustavo Goito came up free with the goalie in the 23rd minute, the Franja Dorada 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 Gustavo Goito couldn't finish the play. 25 minutes into the game, Gustavo Goito cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 1-0. Vlad Covrig was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. A collision led to PHOENIX Cluj-Napoca getting a freekick after 29 minutes play. Mircea Jupân hit a great ball. In the 30th match minute, PHOENIX Cluj-Napoca was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Adrian Bârsan to maneuver through the defense. After 32 minutes PHOENIX Cluj-Napoca's defender was forced to head the ball over the line for a corner. It was Urbano Sagrario who took care of the corner kick. After a rather tough play, Franja Dorada's Aquilino Tajo got a free kick in the 32nd minute. In the 34th minute Sebastian Istodor shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Venancio Hodei saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. The referee felt a red card was in order, 36 minutes into the game, when Tiberiu Rotariu put in a rough tackle. In a very dangerous position, a player in PHOENIX Cluj-Napoca fell when an opponent tried to get the ball from him in the 36th minute. Penalty! Vlad Covrig had in the 37thth minute some difficulties stopping Urbano Sagrario's well aimed penalty as it nearly passed him on his left side, but he still managed to hold the ball. Venancio Hodei took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Damian Cârlan, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Damian Cârlan fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 43rd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Venancio Hodei having to interfere. An unexpectedly hard shot by Gustavo Goito in the 46th minute of play forced PHOENIX Cluj-Napoca's goalkeeper Vlad Covrig to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. The home fans were very happy to see their team leading 1-0 at half-time.

The wind increased when Sebastian Istodor made the kick off in the second half. Calistrat Şerbănescu charged in rather forcefully in the 50th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Calistrat Şerbănescu the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. Calistrat Şerbănescu kicked well hit freekick during the 51st minute of the match. In the 53rd minute Urbano Sagrario shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Vlad Covrig saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. After a defensive mix-up in PHOENIX Cluj-Napoca's zone, Patricio Abajas stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Vlad Covrig came out of the goal and Patricio Abajas tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Florentino Rito sent away a hard shot on goal in the 61st minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Vlad Covrig showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Gustavo Goito, who was totally free with the ball in the 64th minute. The supporters of Franja Dorada booed when PHOENIX Cluj-Napoca was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 69 match minutes in a wonderful position. Damian Cârlan didn't get a good kick on the ball. In the 71st minute the ball was on its way in behind PHOENIX Cluj-Napoca's goalkeeper Vlad Covrig, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. In the 76th minute, Adrian Bârsan hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. An unexpectedly hard shot by Gustavo Goito in the 78th minute of play forced PHOENIX Cluj-Napoca's goalkeeper Vlad Covrig to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. After 78 minutes of play, Franja Dorada's Gustavo Goito made it 2-0 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Vlad Covrig was left in no man's land by his defense there! The supporters of PHOENIX Cluj-Napoca booed when Franja Dorada was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 82 match minutes in a wonderful position. Isidro Cordeal didn't get a good kick on the ball. Alfonso Palban scored 3-0 in the 90th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Vlad Covrig, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. Gustavo Goito fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 92nd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Vlad Covrig having to interfere. Vlad Covrig showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Patricio Abajas, who was totally free with the ball in the 94th minute. Vlad Covrig made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Alfonso Palban in the 95th minute of play. PHOENIX Cluj-Napoca's players left the field with heads hung low after losing a match that had been finely balanced throughout.