U23 World League

Jurong East Stadium
Spectators: 7506 (Terracing: 5630, Seating: 1726, VIP seats: 150) The mood of the audience was pleasant when Andrei Davidescu made the kick off which started today's match. The audience thought a goal was coming when Ali Choy got free with Francisc Ghionescu in the 4th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Francisc Ghionescu made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Ali Choy in the 8th minute of play. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Andrei Davidescu in the 9th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Dale Lim saved Albirex Niigata FC from getting behind. After some careless play in the Albirex Niigata FC defense, Andrei Davidescu kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Dale Lim. The Albirex Niigata FC fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Dale Lim should have stopped the shot. An unexpectedly hard shot by Azli Seah in the 16th minute of play forced The Valar's goalkeeper Francisc Ghionescu to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. After having played for 19 minutes, Ali Ramachandran managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Albirex Niigata FC's supporters crossed their fingers, but Ali Ramachandran was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Clive Politiek sent away a hard shot on goal in the 21st minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Dale Lim didn't succeed to prevent the ball from going into goal when The Valar's Cătălin Creteanu shot an unexpected shot in the crossbar's under edge and made 0-2 in the ordered_time% minute. In the 31st minute of the match Olimpiu Postelnicescu shot from a long distance. The ball could have gone into the goal to the right of the goalkeeper, but Dale Lim showed his good shape when he easily got hold of the ball. 34 minutes into the match, The Valar's goalkeeper Francisc Ghionescu had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Ali Choy. In the 35th minute Andrei Davidescu shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Dale Lim saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Cătălin Creteanu's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Dale Lim read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 39th minute of play. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Cătălin Creteanu in the 43rd managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Dale Lim saved Albirex Niigata FC from getting behind. A collision led to Albirex Niigata FC getting a freekick after 44 minutes play. Jonathan Yi-Sheng hit a great ball.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Ali Choy stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. If Ali Choy had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 52nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. 54 minutes into the game, Cătălin Creteanu cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 0-3. Dale Lim was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. After a rather tough play, The Valar's Toader Bălace got a free kick in the 58th minute. With a little luck, Albirex Niigata FC's Dale Lim got control of the ball when Cătălin Creteanu tried to sneak it across the goal line. Dale Lim came out of the goal in the 64th minute to try and stop a shot by The Valar's Cătălin Creteanu. But to his dismay, Cătălin Creteanu quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 0-5. After 67 minutes of play, The Valar's Andrei Davidescu made it 0-6 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Dale Lim was left in no man's land by his defense there! After a rather tough play, Albirex Niigata FC's Jonathan Yi-Sheng got a free kick in the 71st minute. The Valar's Olimpiu Postelnicescu couldn't find anyone to pass the ball to, so he shot a long shot towards the goal in the 72nd minute. The shot went wide which resulted in a goal kick for Albirex Niigata FC. Albirex Niigata FC's defense didn't have a chance, in the 73rd minute, when Andrei Davidescu scored to the left of an out of position Dale Lim, making the score, 0-7. The audience thought a goal was coming when Gandalf Grey got free with Dale Lim in the 77th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. When Nicholas Tan fell near the penalty area in the 79th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Albirex Niigata FC's protests and gave Nicholas Tan a yellow card for diving instead. When Andrei Davidescu, who was free, got the in front of the goal in the 80 minute he wasn't focused and tipped the ball just over the goal. The Dale Lim was delighted since the ball would have got in if it had gone under the crossbar. The supporters of Albirex Niigata FC booed when The Valar was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 81 match minutes in a wonderful position. Lucian Ştirbu didn't get a good kick on the ball. Dale Lim made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Andrei Davidescu in the 84th minute of play. Hamir Keng made a great header on Albirex Niigata FC's corner, it was just that The Valar's Francisc Ghionescu managed to reach the ball for a save. The throw-in from Horia Boerescu in the 94th minute of the game was unfortunally taken care of by Albirex Niigata FC's Hamir Keng. When the match was over The Valar could go home with a victory in their luggage, having controlled the game far better than Albirex Niigata FC throughout the match.