U23 League

Martin Palermo
Spectators: 153 (Terracing: 115, Seating: 35, VIP seats: 3) Luis Santana started the match with the kick off in front of an excited audience. In the 11thth minute of the game Juninho Pernambucano who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Santa Maradona's Tor Rosenlund was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. Benji Price made a fantastic save in the 15th minute, when Octavio Txurio sent off a good shot on target. In the 16th minute, Octavio Txurio reached a very good position and smashed the ball with a huge effort into the net, just to the left of Benji Price. The goal made the score 1-0. In the 19th minute, Luis Santana got an opportunity to score, but he didn't get a solid hit on the ball and ended up kicking it wide of the goal. Benji Price made an important save on a dangerous shot by Luis Santana in the 21st minute. After 30 played minutes Santa Maradona got a freekick which was hit by Hakkı Kenan Ushan. In the 30th minute of the match Victoriano Burutzagi shot from a long distance. The ball could have gone into the goal to the right of the goalkeeper, but Tor Rosenlund showed his good shape when he easily got hold of the ball. Juninho Pernambucano might have been able to make a better finish in the 36th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Tor Rosenlund. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Juninho Pernambucano ran back to his position shaking his head. In the 38th minute, Octavio Txurio left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The Santa Maradona fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 2-1. 43 minutes into the game, Lázaro Librado was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Newpi Academy's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Santa Maradona the free kick. After a rather tough play, Newpi Academy's Lázaro Librado got a free kick in the 43rd minute. When Luis Santana came up free with the goalie in the 44th minute, the Santa Maradona 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 Luis Santana couldn't finish the play. No-one was surprised that the home team were leading 2-1 at half-time.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Juninho Pernambucano made a kick off. An unexpectedly hard shot by Luis Santana in the 58th minute of play forced Newpi Academy's goalkeeper Benji Price to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. An unexpectedly hard shot by Octavio Txurio in the 60th minute of play forced Newpi Academy's goalkeeper Benji Price to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Juninho Pernambucano struck a weak shot in the 62nd minute. Tor Rosenlund didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Newpi Academy. In the 67th minute, Ciriaco Rencio hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Victoriano Burutzagi took a chance and fired a shot far from the goal in the 67th minute, but it turned out to be a dangerous situation for Tor Rosenlund. Santa Maradona's goalkeeper really had to stretch himself to stop the ball from crossing the goal line. Newpi Academy's Pascual Caton was substituted for Rolando Reynardo. Ciriaco Rencio kicked well hit freekick during the 71st minute of the match. Lázaro Librado kicked well hit freekick during the 76th minute of the match. An unexpectedly hard shot by Luis Santana in the 78th minute of play forced Newpi Academy's goalkeeper Benji Price to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. An unexpectedly hard shot by Luis Santana in the 79th minute of play forced Newpi Academy's goalkeeper Benji Price to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Newpi Academy's Benji Price played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Octavio Txurio in the 80th minute of play. 83 minutes into the match, Newpi Academy's goal looked a bit too open when Cecilio Ubarna came free, but Benji Price reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After 84 minutes, Jeremias Cuartio mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Newpi Academy and the Santa Maradona players grew even worse after the yellow card. After 85 played minutes Newpi Academy got a freekick which was hit by Jeremias Cuartio. The referee blew his whistle, and the match came to a close. The players exchanged shirts and headed down the tunnel. The Santa Maradona fans cheered their team off the field, for while Newpi Academy had put up a good fight, they were unable to come out of the game with any points to show for their effort.