U23 World League

Hippo Pool
Spectators: 7506 (Terracing: 5630, Seating: 1726, VIP seats: 150) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Zenonas Garnys started the match with the kick off. Ernestas Paukštys charged in rather forcefully in the 3rd minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Ernestas Paukštys the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. In the 4th minute of the match Dolf Zaagman sent off a long shot with destination to the right of the goalkeeper, but Pranas Kirkutis skillfully saved the ball. Pranas Kirkutis took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Henk Boon, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Pranas Kirkutis took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Anton Jacobs, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. An unexpectedly hard shot by Anton Jacobs in the 15th minute of play forced Savage Hippo's goalkeeper Pranas Kirkutis to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Pranas Kirkutis showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Anton Jacobs, who was totally free with the ball in the 16th minute. In the 19th minute the ball was on its way in behind Savage Hippo's goalkeeper Pranas Kirkutis, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. Pranas Kirkutis came out of the goal in the 23rd minute to try and stop a shot by De Pelgrims's Ted Hilbrands. But to his dismay, Ted Hilbrands quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 0-1. After a rather tough play, Savage Hippo's Jogaila Palčiauskas got a free kick in the 26th minute. The supporters of De Pelgrims booed when Savage Hippo was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 34 match minutes in a wonderful position. Raimundas Želvys didn't get a good kick on the ball. In the 35th minute Dolf Zaagman shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Pranas Kirkutis saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. An unexpectedly hard shot by Henk Boon in the 36th minute of play forced Savage Hippo's goalkeeper Pranas Kirkutis to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Savage Hippo's Naglis Bajoriūnas got a good chance for a goal in the 41st minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. An unexpectedly hard shot by Anton Jacobs in the 43rd minute of play forced Savage Hippo's goalkeeper Pranas Kirkutis to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Franck Karremans hit a great freekick 46 minutes into the match. Savage Hippo's supporters stood up full of expectation in the 48th minute of the game, when Raimundas Želvys after an extraordinary solo performance found himself with a golden opportunity in front of De Pelgrims's goal. Raimundas Želvys was unfortunally a little to anxious and the ball went outside the goal. Even after changing tactics the home team jogged off the field with a 0-1 deficit. They would have to work harder if they wanted to turn things around in the second half.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Anton Jacobs to make the kick off. If Wilco de Zwaan had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 52nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Elbert Plescher made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Naglis Bajoriūnas in the 58th minute of play. Pranas Kirkutis showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Henk Boon in the 60th minute of the match. Anton Jacobs sent away a hard shot on goal in the 62nd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Ted Hilbrands received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 64th minute. Pranas Kirkutis tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. 66 minutes into the match, Savage Hippo's goalkeeper Pranas Kirkutis had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Anton Jacobs. After 67 minutes of play, De Pelgrims's Henk Boon made it 0-2 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Pranas Kirkutis was left in no man's land by his defense there! Pranas Kirkutis made a fantastic save in the 71st minute, when Anton Jacobs sent off a good shot on target. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Wilco de Zwaan during the 75th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. After 77 played minutes De Pelgrims got a freekick which was hit by Wilfred Fokkens. After a rather tough play, Savage Hippo's Andrius Atkočiunas got a free kick in the 79th minute. Anton Jacobss short, quick shot in the 87thth minute got Pranas Kirkutis to make great effort and bar the ball away from getting in. De Pelgrims's Elbert Plescher played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Zenonas Garnys in the 91st minute of play. Savage Hippo's Pranas Kirkutis played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Henk Boon in the 97th minute of play.