U23 World League

EL NATIONAL
Spectators: 7506 (Terracing: 5630, Seating: 1726, VIP seats: 150) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when Nelson Mendoza kicked off to start the match. Antonio Claeys made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Rafet Faydalı in the 3rd minute of play. Ernest Obreja stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Pieter-Jan Rummens's shot from short distance in the 5th minute. The audience thought a goal was coming when Pieter-Jan Rummens got free with Ernest Obreja in the 6th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. After 7 played minutes FC Ouagadougou National got a freekick which was hit by Jeffrey Rits. Nelson Mendoza received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 9th minute. Antonio Claeys tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Antonio Claeys made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Hermengildo Jobo in the 11th minute of play. Pieter-Jan Rummens blasted a shot towards the goal in the 13th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Ernest Obreja having to make a save. When Jeremie Sterkx fell near the penalty area in the 16th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored FC Ouagadougou National's protests and gave Jeremie Sterkx a yellow card for diving instead. In the 16th match minute, FC Ouagadougou National was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Jeremie Sterkx to maneuver through the defense. UFC STEAUA's Costică Mangra got a good chance for a goal in the 17th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Pieter-Jan Rummens fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 19th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Ernest Obreja having to interfere. Pieter-Jan Rummens fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 30th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Ernest Obreja having to interfere. Antonio Claeys showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Nelson Mendoza in the 33rd minute of the match. Antonio Claeys didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Hermengildo Jobo went, in the 37th minute, to the upper right corner, 1-1 was the resulting score. In the 46th match minute, FC Ouagadougou National was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Armand Owerckx to maneuver through the defense. After fighting hard for a draw in the first half, the players were able to take a much needed rest.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Pieter-Jan Rummens was the one to do the kick off. If Pieter-Jan Rummens had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 58th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. After a rather tough play, FC Ouagadougou National's Jeremie Sterkx got a free kick in the 72nd minute. Antonio Claeys made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Nelson Mendoza in the 72nd minute of play. After 74 played minutes FC Ouagadougou National got a freekick which was hit by Klaus De Bougne. Jeremie Sterkx hit a great freekick 76 minutes into the match. In the 77th minute of the match Nelson Mendoza sent off a long shot with destination to the right of the goalkeeper, but Antonio Claeys skillfully saved the ball. After some fancy dribbling in the 84th minute, Armand Owerckx managed to get in a good position for a shot. FC Ouagadougou National's supporters rose to their feet, but Armand Owerckx was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Ernest Obreja breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. In the 85th minute Hermengildo Jobo shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Antonio Claeys saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 88th minute UFC STEAUA were awarded a corner. Nelson Mendoza went to the cornerflag to take it. A nice corner shot did that Nelson Mendoza got away a dangerous shot. Despite this Antonio Claeys quite easily got ahold of the ball to make the save. Armand Owerckx received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 96th minute. Ernest Obreja tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Despite being the better team, UFC STEAUA failed to find the winning goal and were forced to settle for a single point.