U23 World League

Arena do Inferno
Spectators: 8501 (Terracing: 6377, Seating: 1955, VIP seats: 169) Lucas Darling made the kick off and thus started the match. In the 3rd minute the ball was on its way in behind Leicester Lions's goalkeeper Grant Blacknell, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. Grant Blacknell took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Deyver Sonn, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. A collision led to Leicester Lions getting a freekick after 9 minutes play. Benny White hit a great ball. A collision led to Merusca F&P getting a freekick after 12 minutes play. Deyver Sonn hit a great ball. Grant Blacknell made a fantastic save in the 20th minute, when Deyver Sonn sent off a good shot on target. In the last second Grant Blacknell throw himself and got hold of the ball when Betinho Romagnoli in the 26thth minute from his position got away a shot towards the right post. Merusca F&P's attacker deliberately struck the ball against an opponent to win a corner for his team. The corner was taken by Fabinho Berger in the 27th minute. The corner ended in Fabinho Berger almost managing to get the ball behind the net, but Leicester Lions's Grant Blacknell did a great save. Grant Blacknell made an important save on a dangerous shot by Deyver Sonn in the 31st minute. Grant Blacknell made an important save on a dangerous shot by Deyver Sonn in the 36th minute. A collision led to Merusca F&P getting a freekick after 38 minutes play. Roberto Nesta hit a great ball. In the 38th minute, Roberto Nesta fired away a free kick at the goal, but hit it at the wrong angle and it went over the crossbar. The fans had the chance to grab some refreshments as the whistle went for half-time. The score stood at 0-0 after a close first half.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Deyver Sonn to make the kick off. In the 50th match minute, Leicester Lions was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Lucas Darling to maneuver through the defense. In the 56th minute Deyver Sonn shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Grant Blacknell saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Leicester Lions's Grant Blacknell played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Deyver Sonn in the 57th minute of play. Raúl Cabral took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Camron Rhodes, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Grant Blacknell stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Betinho Romagnoli's shot from short distance in the 78th minute. Leicester Lions's Şükür Hagi was substituted for Lucas Darling. Merusca F&P made a substitution. Sérgio das Neves replaced Deyver Sonn. Leicester Lions made a substitution. Alexander-James Ford replaced Alexander Cheetham. Merusca F&P's Walmir Pontes was substituted for Betinho Romagnoli. In the 81st minute of the match Merusca F&P got a corner. Leicester Lions's goalie ran out to the linesman to protest the call, but the linesman resolutely pointed his flag at the cornerflag. Fabinho Berger ran over to the corner to take the kick. Merusca F&P's Walmir Pontes was first on the ball when the corner was shot and he dangerously headed the ball towards goal, but Grant Blacknell in the goal jumped up to prevent it from getting in. The supporters of Merusca F&P booed when Leicester Lions was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 82 match minutes in a wonderful position. Bobby Pirés didn't get a good kick on the ball. Grant Blacknell showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Sérgio das Neves in the 82nd minute of the match. Grant Blacknell didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Sérgio das Neves went, in the 87th minute, to the upper right corner, 2-0 was the resulting score. Raúl Cabral made a fantastic save in the 89th minute, when Şükür Hagi sent off a good shot on target.