U23 League

Gran Parque Central
Spectators: 175 (Terracing: 132, Seating: 40, VIP seats: 3) Navalito's Romeo Jurado 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. Guilllermo Bulnes hit a great freekick 6 minutes into the match. Nacional's Juaneizu Merida played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Xaiver Besa in the 11th minute of play. Juan Ignacio Grove made an important save on a dangerous shot by Niolaao Viya in the 15th minute. In the 17th minute, Niolaao Viya 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. Xaiver Besa sent away a hard shot on goal in the 19th minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. The supporters of Navalito booed when Nacional was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 21 match minutes in a wonderful position. Guilllermo Bulnes didn't get a good kick on the ball. Pedro Tomás Macaya blasted a shot towards the goal in the 22nd minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Juaneizu Merida having to make a save. In the 23rd minute, Luciano Inverso hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. After a rather tough play, Nacional's Guilllermo Bulnes got a free kick in the 26th minute. Juaneizu Merida showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Elazar Cacho in the 29th minute of the match. Nacional's Niolaao Viya got a good chance for a goal in the 30th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Juaneizu Merida stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Xaiver Besa's shot from short distance in the 33rd minute. In the 35thth minute of the game Niolaao Viya who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Navalito's Juan Ignacio Grove was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. Humberto Samaniego made in the 36th minute of the game a throw-in that took a bad bounce and was taken care of by Nacional's Guilllermo Bulnes. After some fancy dribbling in the 40th minute, Niolaao Viya managed to get in a good position for a shot. Nacional's supporters rose to their feet, but Niolaao Viya was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Juan Ignacio Grove breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Juan Ignacio Grove showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Niolaao Viya in the 47th minute of the match. 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.

Niolaao Viya might have been able to make a better finish in the 53rd minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Juan Ignacio Grove. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Niolaao Viya ran back to his position shaking his head. In the 61st minute of the match, Elazar Cacho got a very nice opportunity to score, but Juaneizu Merida was well-placed and pushed the ball away from the goal at the left post. In the 62nd minute Niolaao Viya shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Juan Ignacio Grove saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Nacional made a substitution. Walme Yurre replaced Mendiko Bueres. Nacional's attacker deliberately struck the ball against an opponent to win a corner for his team. The corner was taken by Joseph Gayoso in the 64th minute. After taking down the ball on Nacional's corner Leonides Trarigo fired away a hard shot, but the defenders efficiently covered the most dangerous angles and Juan Ignacio Grove quite easily take care of the ball. 78 minutes into the match, Nacional's goal looked a bit too open when Xaiver Besa came free, but Juaneizu Merida reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After 80 minutes Nacional's defender was forced to head the ball over the line for a corner. It was Delfino Vos de Vos who took care of the corner kick. Ursino Brunet blasted a shot towards the goal in the 83rd minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Juan Ignacio Grove having to make a save. If Romeo Jurado had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 91st minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. 94 minutes into the match, Navalito's goal looked a bit too open when Ursino Brunet came free, but Juan Ignacio Grove reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. The corner ended in Joseph Gayoso almost managing to get the ball behind the net, but Navalito's Juan Ignacio Grove did a great save. Navalito were disappointed that they only managed a draw, even though they felt themselves to be the better team.