U23 World League

Estádio Teixeirão
Spectators: 7563 (Terracing: 5673, Seating: 1739, VIP seats: 151) Thodoris Polimenakos started the match with the kick off in front of an excited audience. Markos Kokotoulis struck a weak shot in the 3rd minute. Gonçalo de Amorim didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for RO Army V55. A collision led to America Futebol Clube SP getting a freekick after 10 minutes play. Sérgio Trigo hit a great ball. In the 12th minute, Thodoris Polimenakos hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Luiz Paulo Albuquerque in the 15th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Eutichios Bletsas prevented the ball from getting in the gole. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Markos Kokotoulis during the 17th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. After 20 minutes, Eustratios Lemonis mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the RO Army V55 and the America Futebol Clube SP players grew even worse after the yellow card. Eustratios Lemonis hit a great freekick 20 minutes into the match. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Ntinos Bogdanos during the 23rd minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. The supporters of America Futebol Clube SP booed when RO Army V55 was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 23 match minutes in a wonderful position. Ntinos Bogdanos didn't get a good kick on the ball. 24 minutes into the match, America Futebol Clube SP's Geovânio Netto sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Eutichios Bletsas narrowly saved just below the crossbar. 26 minutes into the match, RO Army V55's goal looked a bit too open when Edson Mendonça came free, but Eutichios Bletsas reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 26th match minute, RO Army V55 was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Thodoris Polimenakos to maneuver through the defense. Edson Mendonça could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 29th minute of the match, but Eutichios Bletsas made a huge save. RO Army V55's Eutichios Bletsas played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Edson Mendonça in the 30th minute of play. Thodoris Koutsoures kicked well hit freekick during the 31st minute of the match. Thanks to some nice moves Edson Mendonça could shoot a difficult shot in the 36th minute, which Eutichios Bletsas however easily saved by the left post. Geovânio Netto kicked well hit freekick during the 39th minute of the match. In the 41st minute Luiz Paulo Albuquerque shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Eutichios Bletsas saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 42nd match minute, RO Army V55 was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Thodoris Koutsoures to maneuver through the defense. Edson Mendonça could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 43rd minute of the match, but Eutichios Bletsas made a huge save. Edson Mendonça fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 45th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Eutichios Bletsas having to interfere. If Luiz Paulo Albuquerque had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 48th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After a very even first half the match was still tied. The players went to their respective dressing rooms to discuss the tactics for the second half.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Edson Mendonça to make the kick off. RO Army V55's Eutichios Bletsas played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Edson Mendonça in the 52nd minute of play. Régis Paiva hit a great freekick 53 minutes into the match. In the 57th minute, Luiz Paulo Albuquerque got an opportunity to score, but he didn't get a solid hit on the ball and ended up kicking it wide of the goal. During the 64th minute of the match Ntinos Bogdanos completely mistimed his tackle and brought down his opponent. The referee gave Ntinos Bogdanos a yellow card, his second in the match, which meant he could no longer take part in the game. After 64 played minutes RO Army V55 got a freekick which was hit by Ntinos Bogdanos. Eutichios Bletsas made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Samuca Ramalho in the 65th minute of play. After a rather tough play, RO Army V55's Thodoris Polimenakos got a free kick in the 66th minute. An unexpectedly hard shot by Luiz Paulo Albuquerque in the 73rd minute of play forced RO Army V55's goalkeeper Eutichios Bletsas to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. After 74 minutes RO Army V55's defender was forced to head the ball over the line for a corner. It was Samuca Ramalho who took care of the corner kick. After taking down the ball on America Futebol Clube SP's corner Samuca Ramalho fired away a hard shot, but the defenders efficiently covered the most dangerous angles and Eutichios Bletsas quite easily take care of the ball. Eutichios Bletsas showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Geovânio Netto, who was totally free with the ball in the 75th minute. During the 80th minute of the match Thodoris Koutsoures completely mistimed his tackle and brought down his opponent. The referee gave Thodoris Koutsoures a yellow card, his second in the match, which meant he could no longer take part in the game. Thodoris Koutsoures kicked well hit freekick during the 80th minute of the match. Eutichios Bletsas showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Luiz Paulo Albuquerque, who was totally free with the ball in the 82nd minute. An unexpectedly hard shot by Edson Mendonça in the 85th minute of play forced RO Army V55's goalkeeper Eutichios Bletsas to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. The America Futebol Clube SP fans' excitement grew in the 85th match minute when America Futebol Clube SP's Edson Mendonça looked to have a clear shot with the ball near the goal. The shot wasn't hard, but the ball still rolled over the goal line to make it 1-0 before the goalkeeper had a chance to intervene. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Thodoris Polimenakos during the 88th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. Thodoris Polimenakos hit a great freekick 88 minutes into the match. Eutichios Bletsas took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Edson Mendonça, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. After 95 played minutes America Futebol Clube SP got a freekick which was hit by Edson Mendonça. America Futebol Clube SP walked away with a well-earned victory that was much celebrated by the crowd.