League

Can Xarau
Spectators: 10820 (Terracing: 8116, Seating: 2488, VIP seats: 216) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Jonathan Stamnes got the match started through his kick off. After a rather tough play, Celtic de Sarda's Niklas Pettersson got a free kick in the 2nd minute. 4 minutes into the match, Ivor Whitehead notched a goal, 0-1, to the right of Celtic de Sarda's Rick Brearley. Rick Brearley was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. Sonny Branson fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 10th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Dennis Baldwin having to interfere. Niklas Pettersson fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 18th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Dennis Baldwin having to interfere. After a defensive mix-up in El Expreso's zone, Lars-Erik Hellström stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Dennis Baldwin came out of the goal and Lars-Erik Hellström tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. 29 minutes into the match, El Expreso's goalkeeper Dennis Baldwin had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Niklas Pettersson. Jonathan Stamnes's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Dennis Baldwin read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 32nd minute of play. 1-1 became the score in the 32nd minute when Lars-Erik Hellström elegantly shot the ball into goal just under the crossbar. Dennis Baldwin showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Jonathan Stamnes, who was totally free with the ball in the 38th minute. After 42 played minutes El Expreso got a freekick which was hit by Camron Langsford. In the 43rd minute, Ilie Negrescu hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. The audience thought a goal was coming when Jonathan Stamnes got free with Dennis Baldwin in the 43rd minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. In the 46th minute, Edu de Sousa 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. After the first half the score was level. The break gave the players a chance to catch their breath, whilst the managers went over the tactics with them again.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Edu de Sousa to make the kick off. When Ivor Whitehead came up free with the goalie in the 53rd minute, the El Expreso fans jumped to their feet. But the shot missed the goal by a fraction of an inch, and the fans sat back down disappointed that Ivor Whitehead couldn't finish the play. Dennis Baldwin took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Lars-Erik Hellström, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Dennis Baldwin made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Jonathan Stamnes in the 58th minute of play. In the 59th minute of the match Celtic de Sarda got a corner. El Expreso's goalie ran out to the linesman to protest the call, but the linesman resolutely pointed his flag at the cornerflag. Jonathan Stamnes ran over to the corner to take the kick. Kauã Lopes kicked well hit freekick during the 61st minute of the match. After a defensive mix-up in Celtic de Sarda's zone, Thanos Siokos stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Rick Brearley came out of the goal and Thanos Siokos tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. If Jonathan Stamnes had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 66th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Dennis Baldwin made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Lars-Erik Hellström in the 68th minute of play. Niklas Pettersson received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 70th minute. Dennis Baldwin tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. With a little luck, Celtic de Sarda's Rick Brearley got control of the ball when Ivor Whitehead tried to sneak it across the goal line. The supporters of Celtic de Sarda booed when El Expreso was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 73 match minutes in a wonderful position. Thanos Siokos didn't get a good kick on the ball. Dennis Baldwin made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Niklas Pettersson in the 75th minute of play. Ivor Whitehead's shot when he came free in front of the goal in the 83rdth minute, Rick Brearley skillfully showed off with a save to what seemed to be an obvious goal. In the 84th minute, Camron Langsford hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Ivor Whitehead struck a weak shot in the 87th minute. Rick Brearley didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for El Expreso. Ivor Whitehead could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 91st minute of the match, but Rick Brearley made a huge save. 92 minutes into the match, Celtic de Sarda's goal looked a bit too open when Edu de Sousa came free, but Rick Brearley reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. El Expreso's Dennis Baldwin played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Lars-Erik Hellström in the 93rd minute of play. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Lars-Erik Hellström in the 95th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Dennis Baldwin prevented the ball from getting in the gole. The crowd rose to their feet and cheered when the referee blew the final whistle. Celtic de Sarda had won after a very even match.