U21 World League

Stadio Viola Sensi
Spectators: 7506 (Terracing: 5630, Seating: 1726, VIP seats: 150) The mood of the audience was pleasant when Khairil Hsin made the kick off which started today's match. 11 minutes into the match, Villa Gordiani's goal looked a bit too open when Ali Ramachandran came free, but Ciro Del Vecchio reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Khairil Hsin might have been able to make a better finish in the 20th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Ciro Del Vecchio. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Khairil Hsin ran back to his position shaking his head. Dale Lim was out of position in the 25 minute of play, and Adriano Barone capitalized on the mistake with a soft shot into the goal. Adriano Barone really showed his touch with that goal: 1-1. Khairil Hsin took the ball and in the 28 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Ciro Del Vecchio. Ciro Del Vecchio dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 1-2. Emiliano Grossi's late challenge caught a Albirex Niigata FC's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Emiliano Grossi helped the player get up and apologised. A collision led to Villa Gordiani getting a freekick after 33 minutes play. Emiliano Grossi hit a great ball. Khairil Hsin received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 35th minute. Ciro Del Vecchio tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. In the 37th match minute, Albirex Niigata FC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Azli Seah to maneuver through the defense. Ciro Del Vecchio stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Khairil Hsin's shot from short distance in the 40th minute. An unexpectedly hard shot by Ali Ramachandran in the 42nd minute of play forced Villa Gordiani's goalkeeper Ciro Del Vecchio to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. The referee felt a red card was in order, 44 minutes into the game, when Clive Politiek put in a rough tackle. The referee blew the whistle for a penalty in the 43rd minute of the game. One of Albirex Niigata FC:s players had nearly got his shirt torn off by an opponent while getting free in front of Villa Gordiani:s goal. The goalkeeper, Dale Lim, was totally fooled by Villa Gordiani's Attilio Iob, who 45 minutes into the game made a penalty shot that went in on the goalkeeper's left side.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Adriano Barone made a kick off. Villa Gordiani's Emiliano Grossi got his second yellow card of the match in the 51st minute. The referee ordered Emiliano Grossi off the ground. Azli Seah was really disappointed when he shot the ball just outside the right post instead of scoring a goal in the 53rd minute. Albirex Niigata FC's manager could be seen on the sidelines shaking his head and muttering to himself as his team had just wasted another chance. Albirex Niigata FC's Ali Ramachandran got a good chance for a goal in the 56th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Ali Ramachandran received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 61st minute. Ciro Del Vecchio tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Anfilogino Rocca struck a weak shot in the 63rd minute. Dale Lim didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Villa Gordiani. Lamar Yang hit a great freekick 64 minutes into the match. Ali Ramachandran fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 68th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Ciro Del Vecchio having to interfere. In the 74th minute, Ali Ramachandran 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. A collision led to Albirex Niigata FC getting a freekick after 77 minutes play. Ali Ramachandran hit a great ball. After a rather tough play, Albirex Niigata FC's Lamar Yang got a free kick in the 80th minute. A throw-in in the 84th minute of the game was made by Afiq Hsi with Azli Seah as target, who quickly passed the ball forward. Albirex Niigata FC played a much better game than Villa Gordiani and deserved their victory. The Villa Gordiani players were clearly disappointed as they left the ground.