U23 World League

Maidan Arena
Spectators: 7507 (Terracing: 5631, Seating: 1726, VIP seats: 150) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Ivan Şumălan started the match with the kick off. If Cornel Bourceanu had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 6th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Mustafa Namık Haymanalı hit a great freekick 10 minutes into the match. Ivan Şumălan was really disappointed when he shot the ball just outside the right post instead of scoring a goal in the 11th minute. Juventus PTM's manager could be seen on the sidelines shaking his head and muttering to himself as his team had just wasted another chance. If Balaban Yürük had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 12th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. If Ivan Şumălan had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 14th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 17th minute Baykan Yağıztekin shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Virgil Lixandru saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Ivan Şumălan fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 20th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Evren Serkut having to interfere. Cornel Bourceanu received a nice pass, split the defenders, and ran untouched towards the goal. Evren Serkut came out and tried to block the shot, but Cornel Bourceanu slotted it home off the left post making it 1-0 in the 22nd minute. In the 24th minute, Codruț Bărbulescu hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Virgil Lixandru showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Baykan Yağıztekin in the 26th minute of the match. Evren Serkut made an important save on a dangerous shot by Cornel Bourceanu in the 29th minute. If Ivan Şumălan had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 32nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Cornel Doman received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 34th minute. Evren Serkut tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Ivan Şumălan fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 48th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Evren Serkut having to interfere. The away team players looked dejected as the walked off the pitch at half time. They had fought hard, but were still losing 1-0.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Baykan Yağıztekin to strike the kick off in the second half. LOTUS's Baykan Yağıztekin got a good chance for a goal in the 52nd minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. After having played for 56 minutes, Baykan Yağıztekin managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. LOTUS's supporters crossed their fingers, but Baykan Yağıztekin was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Evren Serkut showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Cornel Bourceanu, who was totally free with the ball in the 59th minute. In the 71st match minute, Juventus PTM was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Ivan Şumălan to maneuver through the defense. Ivan Şumălan fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 74th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Evren Serkut having to interfere. 76 minutes into the match, Ivan Şumălan notched a goal, 2-0, to the right of LOTUS's Evren Serkut. Evren Serkut was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. 81 minutes into the match, LOTUS's goal looked a bit too open when Cornel Bourceanu came free, but Evren Serkut reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Ivan Şumălan sent away a hard shot on goal in the 83rd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. If Baykan Yağıztekin had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 91st minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Virgil Lixandru made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Baykan Yağıztekin in the 96th minute of play. It was no surprise that this one had ended in a win for the home team. Juventus PTM had played much better football throughout.