U23 World League

Mineirão
Spectators: 7788 (Terracing: 5800, Seating: 1830, VIP seats: 158) Kukova United's Gao Zhen Chao 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. In the 6th minute Gao Zhen Chao shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Arthur Bufi saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Kukova United's attacker deliberately struck the ball against an opponent to win a corner for his team. The corner was taken by Pavol Halko in the 7th minute. After taking down the ball on Kukova United's corner Dušan Ujlaky fired away a hard shot, but the defenders efficiently covered the most dangerous angles and Arthur Bufi quite easily take care of the ball. After 9 played minutes Kukova United got a freekick which was hit by Richard Kaján. In the 14th match minute, Kukova United was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Bohuslav Lehotzký to maneuver through the defense. Arthur Bufi took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Ivan Galoša, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. An unexpectedly hard shot by 余永川 in the 23rd minute of play forced Kukova United's goalkeeper Anıl Baran Uslu to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. 27 minutes into the match, Kukova United's goalkeeper Anıl Baran Uslu had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Gwidon Cwojdak. After some careless play in the Kukova United defense, 余永川 kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Anıl Baran Uslu. The Kukova United fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Anıl Baran Uslu should have stopped the shot. Cruzeiro Esporte Clube's Arthur Bufi played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Gao Zhen Chao in the 35th minute of play. Anıl Baran Uslu made a fantastic save in the 39th minute, when 余永川 sent off a good shot on target. 余永川 could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 39th minute of the match, but Anıl Baran Uslu made a huge save. 余永川 in the 44thth minute had a little luck and got a chance for a shot in front of the goal. Without hesitation aimed to the right of Anıl Baran Uslu, who managed to lunge to the right direction and made a save. Cristi Saron fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 46th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Anıl Baran Uslu having to interfere. 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.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Gwidon Cwojdak to make the kick off. After 52 minutes of play, Cruzeiro Esporte Clube's 余永川 made it 2-0 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Anıl Baran Uslu was left in no man's land by his defense there! 54 minutes into the match, Cruzeiro Esporte Clube's goal looked a bit too open when Gao Zhen Chao came free, but Arthur Bufi reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. 余永川 sent away a hard shot on goal in the 59th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Arthur Bufi was a little too slow when Gao Zhen Chao got a fine hit on the ball which went right into the goal in the 61st minute. The score was now 2-1. Arthur Bufi showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Juraj Bicák in the 64th minute of the match. Anıl Baran Uslu stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of 余永川's shot from short distance in the 66th minute. Arthur Bufi made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Gao Zhen Chao in the 67th minute of play. 75 minutes into the match, Cruzeiro Esporte Clube's goalkeeper Arthur Bufi had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Ivan Galoša. When the match clock showed 77 minutes, the score became 3-1 when 余永川 sped through Kukova United's defense and sent away a curving shot that went into the net to the right of Anıl Baran Uslu. Cruzeiro Esporte Clube's Olavo Quadros was substituted for Douglas Botelho. Hélder Lara kicked well hit freekick during the 81st minute of the match. Richard Kaján hit a great freekick 86 minutes into the match. 余永川 fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 88th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Anıl Baran Uslu having to interfere. A collision led to Cruzeiro Esporte Clube getting a freekick after 89 minutes play. Cristi Saron hit a great ball. 93 minutes into the match, Cruzeiro Esporte Clube's Gwidon Cwojdak sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Anıl Baran Uslu narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Kukova United's Anıl Baran Uslu played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by 余永川 in the 94th minute of play. Ladislav Zemko could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 96th minute of the match, but Arthur Bufi made a huge save. Cruzeiro Esporte Clube's fans were exulted and cheered after their team won in a match that could easily have gone the other way.