U21 World League

Zamalek FC Park
Spectators: 7504 (Terracing: 5629, Seating: 1726, VIP seats: 149) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Brendon Fish started the match with the kick off. Merlin Dolan showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Claudio Ruggeri in the 4th minute of the match. After 6 minutes, Santo Knox mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Zamalek FC and the Zola Predosa FC players grew even worse after the yellow card. After 6 minutes of play, the referee blew the whistle. It was a penalty for Zamalek FC! Zamalek FC's Merlin Dolan played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Claudio Ruggeri in the 10th minute of play. 12 minutes into the match, Claudio Ruggeri notched a goal, 0-1, to the right of Zamalek FC's Merlin Dolan. Merlin Dolan was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Dino Cala in the 17th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Merlin Dolan saved Zamalek FC from getting behind. In the 19th minute Claudio Ruggeri shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Merlin Dolan saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 21st minute, Flavio Trotta hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. After some fancy dribbling in the 24th minute, Dino Teodori managed to get in a good position for a shot. Zola Predosa FC's supporters rose to their feet, but Dino Teodori was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Merlin Dolan breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. During the 26th minute of the match Santo Knox completely mistimed his tackle and brought down his opponent. The referee gave Santo Knox a yellow card, his second in the match, which meant he could no longer take part in the game. The supporters of Zola Predosa FC booed when Zamalek FC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 26 match minutes in a wonderful position. Santo Knox didn't get a good kick on the ball. 27 minutes into the match, Zola Predosa FC's Dino Teodori broke free and took a long shot that unfortunately flew wide. A fine initiative that could have resulted in a goal. If Dino Cala had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 28th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After 32 minutes of play, Zola Predosa FC's Claudio Ruggeri made it 0-2 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Merlin Dolan was left in no man's land by his defense there! A collision led to Zola Predosa FC getting a freekick after 40 minutes play. Dino Cala hit a great ball. Gilbert Jordan hit a great freekick 43 minutes into the match. In the 45th minute, Claudio Ruggeri ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Merlin Dolan was frozen by the shot and now it was 0-4.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Claudio Ruggeri stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. 51 minutes in the game, Dino Cala fired away an excellent shot, which passed to the side of the right post without Merlin Dolan having to interfere. The supporters of Zola Predosa FC booed when Zamalek FC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 52 match minutes in a wonderful position. Gilbert Jordan didn't get a good kick on the ball. 59 minutes into the match, Zola Predosa FC's Dino Teodori sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Merlin Dolan narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Zola Predosa FC's attacker deliberately struck the ball against an opponent to win a corner for his team. The corner was taken by Dino Teodori in the 60th minute. The corner ended in Franco Di Luca almost managing to get the ball behind the net, but Zamalek FC's Merlin Dolan did a great save. Merlin Dolan made a fantastic save in the 63rd minute, when Claudio Ruggeri sent off a good shot on target. In the 66th minute, Dino Teodori fired away a shot on goal. He put a little to much spin on the ball and sent it just wide of the right post. A collision led to Zola Predosa FC getting a freekick after 67 minutes play. Claudio Ruggeri hit a great ball. After a rather tough play, Zamalek FC's Eddie Pelletier got a free kick in the 68th minute. Claudio Ruggeri fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 70th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Merlin Dolan having to interfere. 73 minutes into the game, Dino Cala was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Zola Predosa FC's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Zamalek FC the free kick. Dino Cala kicked well hit freekick during the 73rd minute of the match. After 76 minutes of play Zola Predosa FC's Dino Cala was too eager in his attempt to stop his opponent and brought him down. With that he got his second yellow card and was ordered off the ground. Dino Cala hit a great freekick 77 minutes into the match. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Brendon Fish in the 78th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Biagio Sessa prevented the ball from getting in the gole. 83 minutes into the match, Zamalek FC's goal looked a bit too open when Dino Teodori came free, but Merlin Dolan reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Dino Teodori received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 85th minute. Merlin Dolan tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. When Eddie Pelletier fell near the penalty area in the 91st minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Zamalek FC's protests and gave Eddie Pelletier a yellow card for diving instead. The Zamalek FC fans had already started to leave before the final whistle blew. Zola Predosa FC were clearly better and deserved to take the win.