U23 World League

The Honeypot
Spectators: 9400 (Terracing: 7200, Seating: 2000, VIP seats: 200) Samurai's Wu Qi started the match with a crisp pass. The crowd had been anticipating this game for weeks and the excitement in the stadium was easily visible. With a little luck, Samurai's Bai Kun De got control of the ball when Denílson Albuquerque tried to sneak it across the goal line. After a rather tough play, Samurai's Timmy Henriksson got a free kick in the 6th minute. Benne M'ghirbi made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Timmy Henriksson in the 8th minute of play. Samurai's Bai Kun De proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 12th minute of the match, managed to save Samurai from getting a goal against them. After a rather tough play, Honung's Joachim Mager got a free kick in the 19th minute. 21 minutes into the match, Samurai's goalkeeper Bai Kun De had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Angel Lehoi. Bai Kun De made a fantastic save in the 23rd minute, when Angel Lehoi sent off a good shot on target. Benne M'ghirbi showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Wu Qi, who was totally free with the ball in the 24th minute. In the 26th minute, Vinicio Xabel 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. Benne M'ghirbi made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Timmy Henriksson in the 28th minute of play. 31 minutes into the match, Honung's goal looked a bit too open when Timmy Henriksson came free, but Benne M'ghirbi reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. The audience thought a goal was coming when King Puck got free with Bai Kun De in the 37th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. With a little luck, Samurai's Bai Kun De got control of the ball when King Puck tried to sneak it across the goal line. If Rutger Vallander had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 40th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 44th minute Wu Qi shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Benne M'ghirbi saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Benne M'ghirbi showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Wu Qi in the 46th minute of the match. The first half was very even, with the score at 1-1 when the whistle went for half-time. The players welcomed the break and quickly retired to the dressing rooms.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Simon Lertora to strike the kick off in the second half. After a defensive mix-up in Honung's zone, Rutger Vallander stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Benne M'ghirbi came out of the goal and Rutger Vallander tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. An unexpectedly hard shot by Pat Lloret in the 55th minute of play forced Honung's goalkeeper Benne M'ghirbi to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 57thth minute of the game Simon Lertora who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Samurai's Bai Kun De was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. An unexpectedly hard shot by Simon Lertora in the 58th minute of play forced Samurai's goalkeeper Bai Kun De to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 62nd minute Angel Lehoi shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Bai Kun De saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. If Angel Lehoi had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 65th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Samurai made a substitution. Esbjörn Hultstrand replaced Timmy Henriksson. The referee felt a red card was in order, 69 minutes into the game, when Andres Gergori put in a rough tackle. In the 68th minute, one of Samurai:s players had the ball in front of the goal but got pushed and fell. The referee felt it was an obvious case and blew a penalty for Samurai. Simon Lertora shot the penalty kick by force right in the crossbar. No goal. In the 80th minute Pat Lloret shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Benne M'ghirbi saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. After taking down the ball on Samurai's corner Pat Lloret fired away a hard shot, but the defenders efficiently covered the most dangerous angles and Benne M'ghirbi quite easily take care of the ball. King Puck kicked well hit freekick during the 89th minute of the match. Honung's Benne M'ghirbi played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Pat Lloret in the 92nd minute of play. Samurai's supporters were very happy and cheered loudly because their team had won after a very close match.