U18 World League

Saitama Stadium
Spectators: 7860 (Terracing: 5895, Seating: 1808, VIP seats: 157) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Patrick Buttigieg started the match with the kick off. In the 4th minute, Nick Abdilla hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Patrick Buttigieg charged in rather forcefully in the 6th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Patrick Buttigieg the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. Patrick Buttigieg kicked well hit freekick during the 6th minute of the match. In the 8thth minute of the game Germano Romero who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Sliema Dragons FC's Brandon Ellul was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. Willian de Alcântara took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Ian Depasquale, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. The supporters of Sliema Dragons FC booed when THESPA KUSATSU GUNMA was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 12 match minutes in a wonderful position. Henrique Nóbrega didn't get a good kick on the ball. Ismael de Lara who was well placed in front of the goal fired away a dangerous shot that in the 15thth minute tested the skills of Brandon Ellul when he managed to save the team from getting behind. With a little luck, Sliema Dragons FC's Brandon Ellul got control of the ball when Ismael de Lara tried to sneak it across the goal line. Sliema Dragons FC's Brandon Ellul proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 17th minute of the match, managed to save Sliema Dragons FC from getting a goal against them. In the 22nd match minute, Sliema Dragons FC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Philip Griffin to maneuver through the defense. THESPA KUSATSU GUNMA's Eliézer Paraense shoveled away a really nice long shot in the 23rd minute of play. The shot was stopped by Brandon Ellul but with some difficulty. Henrique Nóbrega kicked well hit freekick during the 24th minute of the match. The audience was convinced that Germano Romero's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Brandon Ellul was relentless in the 26th minute of the game. 28 minutes into the match, Sliema Dragons FC's goal looked a bit too open when Agnaldo Diniz came free, but Brandon Ellul reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. 30 minutes into the match, Ismael de Lara notched a goal, 1-0, to the right of Sliema Dragons FC's Brandon Ellul. Brandon Ellul was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. Ismael de Lara who was well placed in front of the goal fired away a dangerous shot that in the 35thth minute tested the skills of Brandon Ellul when he managed to save the team from getting behind. Ismael de Lara sent away a hard shot on goal in the 40th minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. Germano Romero received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 40th minute. Brandon Ellul tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Brandon Ellul made a fantastic save in the 43rd minute, when Ismael de Lara sent off a good shot on target. With his leg Brandon Ellul managed to avoid a goal in the 46thth minute, when THESPA KUSATSU GUNMA's Ismael de Lara fired away a shot with a lot of spin towards his right hand side. 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 players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Germano Romero stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Anselmo Recife during the 51st minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. The supporters of Sliema Dragons FC booed when THESPA KUSATSU GUNMA was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 51 match minutes in a wonderful position. Anselmo Recife didn't get a good kick on the ball. Patrick Buttigieg hit a great freekick 59 minutes into the match. Alfredo Silva 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. The audience was convinced that Eliézer Paraense's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Brandon Ellul was relentless in the 64th minute of the game. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Eliézer Paraense in the 64th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Brandon Ellul prevented the ball from getting in the gole. In the 66thth minute of the game Germano Romero who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Sliema Dragons FC's Brandon Ellul was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. An unexpectedly hard shot by Eliézer Paraense in the 67th minute of play forced Sliema Dragons FC's goalkeeper Brandon Ellul to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 68th minute of the match Agnaldo Diniz sent off a long shot with destination to the right of the goalkeeper, but Brandon Ellul skillfully saved the ball. After 71 minutes, Ismael de Lara made it 3-0 with a short kick to the right side. Sliema Dragons FC's Brandon Ellul tried to save the shot but he was too slow in reacting to the shot. After a rather tough play, THESPA KUSATSU GUNMA's Henrique Nóbrega got a free kick in the 74th minute. Brandon Ellul took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Germano Romero, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Willian de Alcântara made a fantastic save in the 79th minute, when Patrick Buttigieg sent off a good shot on target. 93 minutes into the game, Agnaldo Diniz was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. THESPA KUSATSU GUNMA's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Sliema Dragons FC the free kick. The supporters of Sliema Dragons FC booed when THESPA KUSATSU GUNMA was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 93 match minutes in a wonderful position. Agnaldo Diniz didn't get a good kick on the ball. The referee blew his whistle, and the match came to a close. The players exchanged shirts and headed down the tunnel. The THESPA KUSATSU GUNMA fans cheered their team off the field, for while Sliema Dragons FC had put up a good fight, they were unable to come out of the game with any points to show for their effort.