U23 World League

Alb cu Negru
Spectators: 7472 (Terracing: 5605, Seating: 1718, VIP seats: 149) The mood of the audience was pleasant when Gigi Câmpeanu made the kick off which started today's match. Emanuel Finteșteanu recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 4th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. After 6 played minutes FC UNIREA Alba Iulia got a freekick which was hit by Alin Feroiu. 7 minutes in the game, the ball went up into the seats when Rot-Weiss-Essen's Elmar Assing fired away a shot that was just a little bit too high. He walked away shaking his head. FC UNIREA Alba Iulia's Aurel Tilea played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Erkan Fostiropoulos in the 11th minute of play. In the 14th minute Erkan Fostiropoulos shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Aurel Tilea saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 18th minute, Erkan Fostiropoulos ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Aurel Tilea was frozen by the shot and now it was 0-1. If Erkan Fostiropoulos had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 23rd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Alin Agud sent away a hard shot on goal in the 25th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After 26 played minutes FC UNIREA Alba Iulia got a freekick which was hit by Cornel Câmpeanu. In the 27th minute of the match Erkan Fostiropoulos sent off a long shot with destination to the right of the goalkeeper, but Aurel Tilea skillfully saved the ball. In the 28th minute, Cătălin Amuguroancei hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Elmar Assing in the 29th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Aurel Tilea prevented the ball from getting in the gole. An unexpectedly hard shot by Erkan Fostiropoulos in the 32nd minute of play forced FC UNIREA Alba Iulia's goalkeeper Aurel Tilea to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Gigi Câmpeanu kicked well hit freekick during the 39th minute of the match. Aurel Tilea showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Björn Mokros, who was totally free with the ball in the 41st minute. Aurel Tilea took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Ebbo Böse, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. After a rather tough play, Rot-Weiss-Essen's Xavi Haberer got a free kick in the 47th minute.

The wind increased when Erkan Fostiropoulos made the kick off in the second half. Aurel Tilea made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Erkan Fostiropoulos in the 54th minute of play. Cornel Câmpeanu kicked well hit freekick during the 56th minute of the match. Aurel Tilea made a fantastic save in the 57th minute, when Elmar Assing sent off a good shot on target. 59 minutes had been played when some careless play by FC UNIREA Alba Iulia's defense caused the ball to cross the line for a corner. Erkan Fostiropoulos was slow to take the kick. During this time Rot-Weiss-Essen's players had a chance to rest. Björn Mokros made a great header on Rot-Weiss-Essen's corner, it was just that FC UNIREA Alba Iulia's Aurel Tilea managed to reach the ball for a save. Rot-Weiss-Essen's Uwe Ziege played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Emanuel Finteșteanu in the 61st minute of play. 68 minutes into the match, FC UNIREA Alba Iulia's goalkeeper Aurel Tilea had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Ebbo Böse. A collision led to Rot-Weiss-Essen getting a freekick after 70 minutes play. Erkan Fostiropoulos hit a great ball. Aurel Tilea took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Elmar Assing, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Aurel Tilea was out of position in the 78 minute of play, and Erkan Fostiropoulos capitalized on the mistake with a soft shot into the goal. Erkan Fostiropoulos really showed his touch with that goal: 0-3. Erkan Fostiropoulos struck a weak shot in the 85th minute. Aurel Tilea didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Rot-Weiss-Essen. Xavi Haberer hit a great freekick 90 minutes into the match. Alin Agud fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 93rd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Uwe Ziege having to interfere. The audience thought a goal was coming when Elmar Assing got free with Aurel Tilea in the 95th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. The Rot-Weiss-Essen supporters could be heard counting down the last seconds of the match. They errupted in celebration when the whistle blew, knowing Rot-Weiss-Essen would go home with victory in their luggage after a match that easily could have ended differently.