U23 World League

Arena Real
Spectators: 7479 (Terracing: 5611, Seating: 1719, VIP seats: 149) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Isaias Tuste started the match with the kick off. 2 minutes into the game, Alberto Montae was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Black StarZ's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave FC Ceahlaul Piatra Neamt the free kick. In the 2nd match minute, Black StarZ was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Alberto Montae to maneuver through the defense. Celestino Umea took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Vlad Buhuș, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Marian Bălan showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Herminio Osmundo in the 7th minute of the match. After 8th play minutes Herminio Osmundo shot 1-0, a short shot which went by Marian Bălan and just under the crossbar into goal. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Isaias Tuste in the 14th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Marian Bălan prevented the ball from getting in the gole. Isaias Tuste did some fancy footwork in front of goal and succeeded to deceive the defenders so he could slam the ball in 2-0 to the left of a surprised Marian Bălan 17 minutes into the match. An unexpectedly hard shot by Valer Opincaru in the 21st minute of play forced Black StarZ's goalkeeper Celestino Umea to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Isaias Tuste's shot when he came free in front of the goal in the 24thth minute, Marian Bălan skillfully showed off with a save to what seemed to be an obvious goal. In the 27th minute, FC Ceahlaul Piatra Neamt's Dorin Chirtoacă seemed to kick out at an opponent. The referee saw this and, surprisingly, showed Dorin Chirtoacă the red card, dismissing him from the pitch. The coaching staff of FC Ceahlaul Piatra Neamt protested bitterly, but the referee would have none of it, and Dorin Chirtoacă had no choice but to slowly walk off the pitch. After 26 minutes of play, the referee blew the whistle. It was a penalty for FC Ceahlaul Piatra Neamt! Marian Bălan took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Isaias Tuste, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Cayetano Herauso was extremely unlucky when he, in the 45th minute, took a shot that hit the right post and went out. After 46 played minutes FC Ceahlaul Piatra Neamt got a freekick which was hit by Aron Neaga. All the noise was coming from the home fans when the whistle went for half-time. The home team had fought hardest to put themselves in a deserved lead.

The wind increased when Corneliu Druga made the kick off in the second half. Marian Bălan took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Alberto Montae, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Marian Bălan came out of the goal in the 54th minute to try and stop a shot by Black StarZ's Cayetano Herauso. But to his dismay, Cayetano Herauso quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 4-0. In the 57th match minute, Black StarZ was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Humberto Pedroso to maneuver through the defense. Celestino Umea acted impressively in front of the goal and made a superb save when he, in the 58th minute, took the ball on the long shot from Aron Neaga. In the 61st minute Isaias Tuste shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Marian Bălan saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Norberto Pinto was in a good position and managed to take a shot, but he missed just to the outside of the post. 74 minutes into the match, FC Ceahlaul Piatra Neamt's goal looked a bit too open when Isaias Tuste came free, but Marian Bălan reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Marian Bălan made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Cayetano Herauso in the 83rd minute of play. Black StarZ walked away with a well-earned victory that was much celebrated by the crowd.