U21 World League

Qemal Stafa
Spectators: 7956 (Terracing: 5968, Seating: 1830, VIP seats: 158) K.F TIRANA's Cristoforo De Luca started the match with a crisp pass. The crowd had been anticipating this game for weeks and the excitement in the stadium was easily visible. Ogro F.C.'s Osmar Maciel proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 9th minute of the match, managed to save Ogro F.C. from getting a goal against them. Mario Duplantier received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 11th minute. Branden Shelton tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. In the 19th minute, Mario Duplantier left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The Ogro F.C. fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 0-2. In the 23rd minute Cuca Teixeira shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Branden Shelton saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. After some careless play in the K.F TIRANA defense, Cuca Teixeira kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Branden Shelton. The K.F TIRANA fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Branden Shelton should have stopped the shot. 26 minutes into the match, Cuca Teixeira notched a goal, 0-4, to the right of K.F TIRANA's Branden Shelton. Branden Shelton was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. Branden Shelton made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Mario Duplantier in the 30th minute of play. The crowd rose to their feet as Cristoforo De Luca kicked a wonderful shot that went in to the left of a diving Osmar Maciel. That made the score 1-4 in the 32 minute of play. Mario Duplantier blasted a shot towards the goal in the 42nd minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Branden Shelton having to make a save. Branden Shelton showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Mario Duplantier, who was totally free with the ball in the 42nd minute. In the 45th minute, Engjëll Duro hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. K.F TIRANA's Branden Shelton played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Mario Duplantier in the 47th minute of play. The crowd was extremely unhappy with the home team's performance in the first half. They were losing 1-4.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Cuca Teixeira stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. Branden Shelton showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Mario Duplantier, who was totally free with the ball in the 54th minute. Branden Shelton made an important save on a dangerous shot by Cuca Teixeira in the 57th minute. Ogro F.C. were awarded a corner in the 60th minute after K.F TIRANA's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Ingo Schwichtenberg took the corner. Ogro F.C.'s Osmar Maciel played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Wincenty Roman in the 62nd minute of play. Cuca Teixeira could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 63rd minute of the match, but Branden Shelton made a huge save. When Cuca Teixeira came up free with the goalie in the 65th minute, the Ogro F.C. 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 Cuca Teixeira couldn't finish the play. Branden Shelton made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Cuca Teixeira in the 72nd minute of play. Ogro F.C.'s Mario Duplantier got a good chance for a goal in the 73rd minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Cuca Teixeira's shot straight on target was not completely harmless. The ball had pretty good speed, but Branden Shelton firmly grabbed it by the left post. Cuca Teixeira blasted a shot towards the goal in the 77th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Branden Shelton having to make a save. Wincenty Roman hit a great freekick 77 minutes into the match. When Baki Balla fell near the penalty area in the 78th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored K.F TIRANA's protests and gave Baki Balla a yellow card for diving instead. Baki Balla kicked well hit freekick during the 78th minute of the match. In the 79th minute the ball was on its way in behind K.F TIRANA's goalkeeper Branden Shelton, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. 81 minutes into the match, Ogro F.C.'s goal looked a bit too open when Wincenty Roman came free, but Osmar Maciel reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 82nd minute, Wincenty Roman hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. If Cuca Teixeira had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 85th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After having played for 87 minutes, Cuca Teixeira managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Ogro F.C.'s supporters crossed their fingers, but Cuca Teixeira was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. 91 minutes into the game, Cuca Teixeira cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 1-5. Branden Shelton was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. Cuca Teixeira made a well adjusted shot against goal in the 94thth minute coming free in front of the goal, but Branden Shelton would not let the ball come through at any expense and made a nice save by the left post. Branden Shelton made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Cuca Teixeira in the 96th minute of play. Mario Duplantier struck a weak shot in the 98th minute. Branden Shelton didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Ogro F.C.. Chants of Ogro F.C. echoed around the stadium as the match drew to a close. Supporters and players were both delighted with the win, as K.F TIRANA had held the ball for most of the match.