U23 League

Hippo Pool
Spectators: 161 (Terracing: 121, Seating: 37, VIP seats: 3) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when Sam Bates kicked off to start the match. 4 minutes into the game, Nerijus Urniežius recieved a splendid long ball, split the defenders, and gently placed the ball to the left of Pat Zamora. Nerijus Urniežius showed that you don't have to tear a hole in the net to score, 1-0. In the 6th match minute, Savage Hippo was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Nerijus Urniežius to maneuver through the defense. After 7 minutes of play, Memphis Grizzlies's Sam Bates made it 1-1 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Vytaras Liaudanskas was left in no man's land by his defense there! A collision led to Memphis Grizzlies getting a freekick after 12 minutes play. Sam Bates hit a great ball. In the 19th minute Albinas Luzeckas shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Pat Zamora saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Nerijus Urniežius kicked well hit freekick during the 21st minute of the match. In the 22nd minute of the match Samuil Saldzhiev shot from a long distance. The ball could have gone into the goal to the right of the goalkeeper, but Vytaras Liaudanskas showed his good shape when he easily got hold of the ball. Sam Bates might have been able to make a better finish in the 25th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Vytaras Liaudanskas. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Sam Bates ran back to his position shaking his head. In the 26th minute, Ethan Smart hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Vytaras Liaudanskas showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Ethan Smart in the 29th minute of the match. Eduardas Girčius's late challenge caught a Memphis Grizzlies's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Eduardas Girčius helped the player get up and apologised. Vytaras Liaudanskas made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Sam Bates in the 36th minute of play. Sam Bates fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 37th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Vytaras Liaudanskas having to interfere. Vytaras Liaudanskas showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Sam Bates in the 41st minute of the match. Adolfas Karpis charged in rather forcefully in the 43rd minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Adolfas Karpis the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. In the 43rd minute, Adolfas Karpis hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. The score stood at 2-2 when the half time whistle went. Both sets of players seemed reasonably pleased with how the match was going.

Ethan Smart charged in rather forcefully in the 55th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Ethan Smart the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. After 55 played minutes Memphis Grizzlies got a freekick which was hit by Ethan Smart. After 62 minutes, Samuil Saldzhiev mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Memphis Grizzlies and the Savage Hippo players grew even worse after the yellow card. After 62 played minutes Memphis Grizzlies got a freekick which was hit by Samuil Saldzhiev. Memphis Grizzlies made a substitution. Eric Choupo-Moting replaced Sam Bates. Memphis Grizzlies's Erling Haaland was substituted for Ethan Smart. Augustinas Ginaitis took a chance and fired a shot far from the goal in the 65th minute, but it turned out to be a dangerous situation for Pat Zamora. Memphis Grizzlies's goalkeeper really had to stretch himself to stop the ball from crossing the goal line. Pat Zamora took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Nerijus Urniežius, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. After a defensive mix-up in Savage Hippo's zone, Eric Choupo-Moting stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Vytaras Liaudanskas came out of the goal and Eric Choupo-Moting tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Memphis Grizzlies's Pat Zamora played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Valdas Poškevičius in the 75th minute of play. 76 minutes into the game, Vygantas Jackevičius threw the ball into play from the sideline. Memphis Grizzlies's Spike Bond quickly snatched the ball and retained possesion. In the 78th minute, Savage Hippo's goalie took a deep sigh of relief after Eric Choupo-Moting fired away a hard shot that went just outside the left post. The audience was convinced that Nerijus Urniežius's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Pat Zamora was relentless in the 84th minute of the game. An unexpectedly hard shot by Adomas Vilčinskas in the 86th minute of play forced Memphis Grizzlies's goalkeeper Pat Zamora to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. 90 minutes into the game, Valdas Poškevičius threw the ball into play from the sideline. Memphis Grizzlies's Spike Bond quickly snatched the ball and retained possesion. A hard shot 92 in the game by Eric Choupo-Moting from a close distance when the talented Vytaras Liaudanskas managed to make a qualified save. Savage Hippo's players were relieved. When the referee blew the final whistle, you could see the dissatisfaction in the Savage Hippo players' eyes. They were disappointed they hadn't taken more from the game.