League

Estadio Ciénega
Spectators: 7213 (Terracing: 5411, Seating: 1659, VIP seats: 143) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Marciano Berbiz started the match with the kick off. Hernan Lucado struck a weak shot in the 5th minute. Humberto Gaskon didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Merlina FC. Humberto Gaskon took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Marciano Berbiz, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Marciano Berbiz sent away a hard shot on goal in the 12th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. When Horacio Joanes fell near the penalty area in the 13th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Reconquista F.C's protests and gave Horacio Joanes a yellow card for diving instead. After a rather tough play, Reconquista F.C's Horacio Joanes got a free kick in the 13th minute. 14 minutes into the match, Marciano Berbiz had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Humberto Gaskon. Reconquista F.C's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Marciano Berbiz was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 0-1. Diego Marinho made an important save on a dangerous shot by Atilano Bela in the 21st minute. Diego Marinho showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Vicente Izotz, who was totally free with the ball in the 22nd minute. Bartolo Mundo's late challenge caught a Reconquista F.C's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Bartolo Mundo helped the player get up and apologised. After 27 played minutes Merlina FC got a freekick which was hit by Bartolo Mundo. Reconquista F.C's Florencio Eskuin shoveled away a really nice long shot in the 33rd minute of play. The shot was stopped by Diego Marinho but with some difficulty. Humberto Gaskon came out of the goal in the 35th minute to try and stop a shot by Merlina FC's Hernan Lucado. But to his dismay, Hernan Lucado quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 0-2. If Hernan Lucado had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 39th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Jimeno Gonsalvo could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 40th minute of the match, but Diego Marinho made a huge save. Atilano Bela received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 43rd minute. Diego Marinho tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. The crowd was extremely unhappy with the home team's performance in the first half. They were losing 0-2.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Vicente Izotz was the one to do the kick off. Merlina FC's Diego Marinho played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Vicente Izotz in the 53rd minute of play. After a rather tough play, Merlina FC's Horacio Tabor got a free kick in the 53rd minute. In the 55th minute of the match Dante Phelipe sent off a long shot with destination to the right of the goalkeeper, but Diego Marinho skillfully saved the ball. In the 56th minute, Bartolo Mundo hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Artemio Santana charged in rather forcefully in the 60th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Artemio Santana the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. After 60 played minutes Reconquista F.C got a freekick which was hit by Artemio Santana. Bartolo Mundo could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 62nd minute of the match, but Humberto Gaskon made a huge save. In the 63rd match minute, Merlina FC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Marciano Berbiz to maneuver through the defense. Atilano Bela scored 1-2 in the 69th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Diego Marinho, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. After a defensive mix-up in Reconquista F.C's zone, Hernan Lucado stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Humberto Gaskon came out of the goal and Hernan Lucado tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Diego Marinho showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Atilano Bela in the 77th minute of the match. In the 85th minute, Horacio Joanes hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. After some careless play in the Reconquista F.C defense, Marciano Berbiz kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Humberto Gaskon. The Reconquista F.C fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Humberto Gaskon should have stopped the shot. When Gonzalo Rodríguez fell near the penalty area in the 90th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Merlina FC's protests and gave Gonzalo Rodríguez a yellow card for diving instead. The supporters of Reconquista F.C booed when Merlina FC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 90 match minutes in a wonderful position. Gonzalo Rodríguez didn't get a good kick on the ball. Merlina FC's Diego Marinho played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Atilano Bela in the 95th minute of play. The Merlina FC supporters could be heard counting down the last seconds of the match. They errupted in celebration when the whistle blew, knowing Merlina FC would go home with victory in their luggage after a match that easily could have ended differently.