U23 World League

Boothferry Park
Spectators: 7668 (Terracing: 5751, Seating: 1764, VIP seats: 153) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when Ionuț Mureșan kicked off to start the match. In the 4thth minute of the game Ionuț Mureșan who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Cremonese FC's Kong Gang Zhan was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. Tyrone Meehan sent away a hard shot on goal in the 9th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After 11 minutes of play, Cremonese FC's Marcus Batista made it 0-1 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Tim Johnstone was left in no man's land by his defense there! When The Tigers's Ionuț Mureșan in the 18th minute got a chance for a shot 18th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Cremonese FC's goalie prevented a goal. Hayden Moore fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 19th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Kong Gang Zhan having to interfere. After 22 minutes Cremonese FC's defender was forced to head the ball over the line for a corner. It was Rio Blewitt who took care of the corner kick. The corner ended in Rio Blewitt almost managing to get the ball behind the net, but Cremonese FC's Kong Gang Zhan did a great save. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Marcus Batista in the 24th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Tim Johnstone prevented the ball from getting in the gole. A collision led to The Tigers getting a freekick after 29 minutes play. Hayden Moore hit a great ball. In the 32nd minute of the match, Ionuț Mureșan tried to roll the ball into the goal by the right post, but Kong Gang Zhan saw his intentions and got control of the ball before it passed the line. Tim Johnstone made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Jackie Tan in the 39th minute of play. The Tigers's Tim Johnstone played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Emanuel Jurgi in the 40th minute of play. 41 minutes into the match, The Tigers's goal looked a bit too open when Marcus Batista came free, but Tim Johnstone reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. The Tigers's Tim Johnstone played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Emanuel Jurgi in the 44th minute of play.

With his leg Tim Johnstone managed to avoid a goal in the 52ndth minute, when Cremonese FC's Jackie Tan fired away a shot with a lot of spin towards his right hand side. If Tyrone Meehan had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 55th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. After some careless play in the Cremonese FC defense, Benji Murray kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Kong Gang Zhan. The Cremonese FC fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Kong Gang Zhan should have stopped the shot. The Tigers's Ionuț Mureșan got a good chance for a goal in the 59th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Cremonese FC's attacker deliberately struck the ball against an opponent to win a corner for his team. The corner was taken by Yasar Bonnemain in the 63rd minute. Rio Blewitt tried in the game's 63rd match minute to clear up in front of his own goal but it went so bad that he put the ball into the goal to the left of an unhappy Tim Johnstone. An annoying self made goal, 1-2. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Sid Francis during the 70th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. In the 70th match minute, The Tigers was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Sid Francis to maneuver through the defense. Cremonese FC's Luizinho Arce was substituted for Danko Brechbilder. Sid Francis kicked well hit freekick during the 71st minute of the match. The Tigers's Tim Johnstone played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Luizinho Arce in the 72nd minute of play. 77 minutes into the game, Jackie Tan cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 1-3. Tim Johnstone was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. An unexpectedly hard shot by Carl Atkins in the 80th minute of play forced Cremonese FC's goalkeeper Kong Gang Zhan to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. 81 minutes into the match, Carl Atkins had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Kong Gang Zhan. Cremonese FC's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Carl Atkins was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 2-3. In the 84th minute, Marcus Batista hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Tyrone Meehan received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 86th minute. Kong Gang Zhan tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Jackie Tan could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 91st minute of the match, but Tim Johnstone made a huge save. After a rather tough play, Cremonese FC's Chu Feng Sang got a free kick in the 94th minute. The Cremonese FC supporters could be heard counting down the last seconds of the match. They errupted in celebration when the whistle blew, knowing Cremonese FC would go home with victory in their luggage after a match that easily could have ended differently.