U18 World League

XMAS park
Spectators: 7655 (Terracing: 5743, Seating: 1760, VIP seats: 152) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Rosario Encalada started the match with the kick off. In the 11th minute, Ennio De Nardis hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Christian Zaccardis short, quick shot in the 14thth minute got Gian-Carlo Caselles to make great effort and bar the ball away from getting in. In the 17th minute Rosario Encalada shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Filippo Barbato saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. When Fulgencio Lazaeta came up free with the goalie in the 20th minute, the El Pinar 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 Fulgencio Lazaeta couldn't finish the play. 28 minutes into the match, XMAS's goal looked a bit too open when Fulgencio Lazaeta came free, but Filippo Barbato reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Fulgencio Lazaeta fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 30th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Filippo Barbato having to interfere. XMAS's Filippo Barbato played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Rosario Encalada in the 32nd minute of play. When the match had been going on for 36 minutes, XMAS's Bruno Alessandrini got an opportunity to shoot a penalty. He stayed cool and waited for the goalkeeper to move, before he confidently shot the ball into the goal, to the left of Gian-Carlo Caselles. In the 39th minute the ball was on its way in behind XMAS's goalkeeper Filippo Barbato, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. XMAS's Christian Zaccardi got a good chance for a goal in the 44th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. The away team players looked dejected as the walked off the pitch at half time. They had fought hard, but were still losing 1-0.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Christian Zaccardi to make the kick off. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Christian Zaccardi in the 52nd minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Gian-Carlo Caselles prevented the ball from getting in the gole. Paulo Borrero kicked well hit freekick during the 52nd minute of the match. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Sustrai Falceto during the 57th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. After 58 played minutes El Pinar got a freekick which was hit by Sustrai Falceto. In the 68th minute, Zarando Dolmos hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. If Alessio Ascoli had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 70th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Rosario Encalada was extremely unlucky when he, in the 74th minute, took a shot that hit the right post and went out. A collision led to XMAS getting a freekick after 76 minutes play. Concetto Marinucci hit a great ball. Rosario Encalada sent away a hard shot on goal in the 77th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. In the 78th minute, Rosario Encalada reached a very good position and smashed the ball with a huge effort into the net, just to the left of Filippo Barbato. The goal made the score 1-2. After a rather tough play, El Pinar's Fulgencio Lazaeta got a free kick in the 90th minute. The audience was convinced that Christian Zaccardi's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Gian-Carlo Caselles was relentless in the 91st minute of the game. After a rather tough play, El Pinar's Zarando Dolmos got a free kick in the 92nd minute. El Pinar's Rosario Encalada got a good chance for a goal in the 96th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. When the match was over El Pinar could go home with a victory in their luggage, having controlled the game far better than XMAS throughout the match.