U23 World League

Santiago benarbéu
Spectators: 7713 (Terracing: 5786, Seating: 1774, VIP seats: 153) Urko FC's Alonzo Rito 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. Zhu Xi stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Alonzo Rito's shot from short distance in the 3rd minute. 7 minutes into the match, Urko FC's goalkeeper Edelmiro Haimar had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Jiang Rong Cheng. In the 14th minute Xie Yue Chao shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Edelmiro Haimar saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 15th minute Alonzo Rito shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Zhu Xi saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. 16 minutes into the match, Urko FC's goal looked a bit too open when Qi Chen Yuan came free, but Edelmiro Haimar reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Daniel Bilos in the 18th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Zhu Xi saved Los Galacticos from getting behind. In the 20th minute, Daniel Bilos ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Zhu Xi was frozen by the shot and now it was 0-2. 24 minutes into the match, Qi Chen Yuan had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Edelmiro Haimar. Urko FC's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Qi Chen Yuan was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 1-2. In the 26th match minute, Los Galacticos was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Jiang Rong Cheng to maneuver through the defense. Zhu Xi made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Fulgencio Teofilio in the 27th minute of play. After 32 played minutes Los Galacticos got a freekick which was hit by Xie Yue Chao. In the 33rd minute Fulgencio Teofilio shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Zhu Xi saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Urko FC's Edelmiro Haimar played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Qi Chen Yuan in the 35th minute of play. The supporters of Los Galacticos booed when Urko FC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 39 match minutes in a wonderful position. Lino Paez didn't get a good kick on the ball. With a little luck, Urko FC's Edelmiro Haimar got control of the ball when Jiang Rong Cheng tried to sneak it across the goal line. Alonzo Rito recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 45th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. The crowd was extremely unhappy with the home team's performance in the first half. They were losing 1-2.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Kong Jing Kun to make the kick off. In the 57th minute, Lino Paez hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Zhu Xi stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Fulgencio Teofilio's shot from short distance in the 64th minute. Zhu Xi showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Alonzo Rito in the 67th minute of the match. Los Galacticos made a substitution. Gu Yi Wei replaced Qi Chen Yuan. If Daniel Bilos had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 79th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. 81 minutes into the match, Los Galacticos's goal looked a bit too open when Fulgencio Teofilio came free, but Zhu Xi reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Edelmiro Haimar took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Xie Yue Chao, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. The audience thought a goal was coming when Alonzo Rito got free with Zhu Xi in the 91st minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. The teams fought very hard right up to the final whistle. Both sets of players were happy to go away with a draw.