U23 World League

ΠΑΟΚ F.C. ARENA
Spectators: 7472 (Terracing: 5605, Seating: 1718, VIP seats: 149) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Cazimir Traian started the match with the kick off. Mădălin Zăraşcu showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Christoforos Tochouroglou, who was totally free with the ball in the 5th minute. The audience thought a goal was coming when Panos Mastrantoniou got free with Mădălin Zăraşcu in the 7th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Lucrețiu Nicolaescu during the 8th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. Călin Barbosu blasted a shot towards the goal in the 11th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Thomas Papagiotopoulos having to make a save. Aurelian Vârnav hit a great freekick 24 minutes into the match. In the 29th match minute, ΠΑΟΚ FC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Dimitris Skevofilakas to maneuver through the defense. 30 minutes into the game, Cristi Iuonaș was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Raureni Academy's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave ΠΑΟΚ FC the free kick. After a rather tough play, Raureni Academy's Cristi Iuonaș got a free kick in the 31st minute. A hard shot by Dimitris Skevofilakas from long distance, 31 minutes into the match, got Mădălin Zăraşcu's attention. Through a fast twist with his body, he could stop the ball from going in on his right side. 36 minutes into the game, Christos Banasas was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. ΠΑΟΚ FC's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Raureni Academy the free kick. In the 36th match minute, ΠΑΟΚ FC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Christos Banasas to maneuver through the defense. Cazimir Traian's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Thomas Papagiotopoulos read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 38th minute of play. When the referee blew for the end of the half the home team players were clearly happier, as they went in to the break leading 1-0.

The wind increased when Kostas Triantopoulos made the kick off in the second half. Cristi Iuonaș kicked well hit freekick during the 52nd minute of the match. After 53 played minutes, ΠΑΟΚ FC's Ilias Peristeropoulos shot from a long distance, and at first it looked like the ball was going into the goal, but the goalkeeper Mădălin Zăraşcu came through and got his fingers on the ball before it flew over the goal line. He then quickly gripped the ball tighter before the forwards in ΠΑΟΚ FC reached it. In the 54th minute Stavros Symeonatos shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Mădălin Zăraşcu saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Panos Mastrantoniou hit a great freekick 56 minutes into the match. Călin Barbosu struck a weak shot in the 57th minute. Thomas Papagiotopoulos didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Raureni Academy. After some careless play in the Raureni Academy defense, Kostas Triantopoulos kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Mădălin Zăraşcu. The Raureni Academy fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Mădălin Zăraşcu should have stopped the shot. In the 87th match minute, ΠΑΟΚ FC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Dimitris Skevofilakas to maneuver through the defense. After 89 played minutes Raureni Academy got a freekick which was hit by Petrică Tărău. In the 96th minute, Thrasivoulos Moisiadis ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Mădălin Zăraşcu was frozen by the shot and now it was 4-0. ΠΑΟΚ FC walked away with a well-earned victory that was much celebrated by the crowd.