U23 World League

Ubaldo Horta
Spectators: 7793 (Terracing: 5846, Seating: 1792, VIP seats: 155) Guntademaro Goyenechea made the kick off and thus started the match. After having played for 2 minutes, Hu Zhen Di managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. The Northmen Army's supporters crossed their fingers, but Hu Zhen Di was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Apolo Irigoyen scored 1-0 in the 5th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Robin Bäckström, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. In the 8th minute, Teofan Bozadzhiyski hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Rolf Holmgren made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Hjalmar Håkansson in the 8th minute of play. After a rather tough play, General Velásquez's Luiz Fernando Cardoso got a free kick in the 10th minute. In the 13th minute of the match, Apolo Irigoyen got a very nice opportunity to score, but Robin Bäckström was well-placed and pushed the ball away from the goal at the left post. With a little luck, The Northmen Army's Robin Bäckström got control of the ball when Apolo Irigoyen tried to sneak it across the goal line. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Gustav Tidéksson during the 16th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. The audience was convinced that Hu Zhen Di's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Rolf Holmgren was relentless in the 19th minute of the game. After 19th play minutes Hu Zhen Di shot 1-1, a short shot which went by Rolf Holmgren and just under the crossbar into goal. Christian Olofsson sent away a hard shot on goal in the 35th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. The audience was convinced that Guntademaro Goyenechea's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Robin Bäckström was relentless in the 37th minute of the game. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Guntademaro Goyenechea in the 37th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Robin Bäckström prevented the ball from getting in the gole. A collision led to General Velásquez getting a freekick after 38 minutes play. Gustav Tidéksson hit a great ball. If Hao Yuan Guang had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 47th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. When Christian Olofsson came up free with the goalie in the 47th minute, the The Northmen Army fans jumped to their feet. But the shot missed the goal by a fraction of an inch, and the fans sat back down disappointed that Christian Olofsson couldn't finish the play. The first half was very even, with the score at 1-1 when the whistle went for half-time. The players welcomed the break and quickly retired to the dressing rooms.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Christian Olofsson stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. Rolf Holmgren took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Hu Zhen Di, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. An unexpectedly hard shot by Hu Zhen Di in the 54th minute of play forced General Velásquez's goalkeeper Rolf Holmgren to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 60th minute Guntademaro Goyenechea shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Robin Bäckström saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Hu Zhen Di sent away a hard shot on goal in the 62nd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. The Northmen Army's Kiko Zimbo was substituted for Hu Zhen Di. After a rather tough play, The Northmen Army's Walery Ludzia got a free kick in the 69th minute. General Velásquez made a substitution. Jorge Vicente Squella replaced Apolo Irigoyen. In the 70th match minute, The Northmen Army was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Walery Ludzia to maneuver through the defense. Robin Bäckström made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Guntademaro Goyenechea in the 74th minute of play. Gustav Tidéksson struck a weak shot in the 83rd minute. Robin Bäckström didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for General Velásquez. In the 88thth minute of the game Guntademaro Goyenechea who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but The Northmen Army's Robin Bäckström was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. Kevin Näfver struck a weak shot in the 92nd minute. Rolf Holmgren didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for The Northmen Army. Kiko Zimbo came free with the goalkeeper in the 93rd minute of the match, and shot straight on target. The shot was a little too simple and Rolf Holmgren could save by the left post. Kiko Zimbo could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 97th minute of the match, but Rolf Holmgren made a huge save. Despite being the better team, General Velásquez failed to find the winning goal and were forced to settle for a single point.