U23 League

Pier Luigi Penzo
Spectators: 151 (Terracing: 114, Seating: 34, VIP seats: 3) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Urbano Sagrario took the kick off in the first half of the match. A collision led to Franja Dorada getting a freekick after 2 minutes play. Gustavo Goito hit a great ball. In the 16th minute Tito Ramírez 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. 18 minutes into the match, Julian Ekialde dribbled the ball past the defender and swiftly kicked the ball to the left of Venancio Hodei, 1-0. An unexpectedly hard shot by Patricio Abajas in the 21st minute of play forced Venezia FC's goalkeeper Roberto Abbondanzieri to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Leonardo Paio was in a good position and managed to take a shot, but he missed just to the outside of the post. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Urbano Sagrario in the 25th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Roberto Abbondanzieri saved Venezia FC from getting behind. The audience was convinced that Urbano Sagrario's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Roberto Abbondanzieri was relentless in the 27th minute of the game. In the 35th minute of the match, Julian Ekialde got a very nice opportunity to score, but Venancio Hodei was well-placed and pushed the ball away from the goal at the left post. Gustavo Goito's late challenge caught a Venezia FC's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Gustavo Goito helped the player get up and apologised. After 37 played minutes Franja Dorada got a freekick which was hit by Gustavo Goito. After 40 minutes, Aquilino Tajo mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Franja Dorada and the Venezia FC players grew even worse after the yellow card. After a rather tough play, Franja Dorada's Aquilino Tajo got a free kick in the 40th minute. Venezia FC's Maximino Guillerme shoveled away a really nice long shot in the 40th minute of play. The shot was stopped by Venancio Hodei but with some difficulty. Franja Dorada's Urbano Sagrario got a good chance for a goal in the 45th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. When the referee blew for the end of the half the home team players were clearly happier, as they went in to the break leading 1-0.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Julian Ekialde stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. 58 minutes into the match, Franja Dorada's goal looked a bit too open when Julian Ekialde came free, but Venancio Hodei reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Gustavo Goito struck a weak shot in the 62nd minute. Roberto Abbondanzieri didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Franja Dorada. Venancio Hodei showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Julian Ekialde, who was totally free with the ball in the 70th minute. Franja Dorada's Alfonso Palban was substituted for Urbano Sagrario. An unexpectedly hard shot by Julian Ekialde in the 85th minute of play forced Franja Dorada's goalkeeper Venancio Hodei to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 90th minute Alfonso Palban shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Roberto Abbondanzieri saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Maximino Guillerme fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 93rd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Venancio Hodei having to interfere. 96 minutes into the match, Tito Ramírez had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Venancio Hodei. Franja Dorada's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Tito Ramírez was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 2-0.