Friendly League

ESA MONUMENTAL
Spectators: 35 (Terracing: 27, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) Michel Haaland started the match with the kick off in front of an excited audience. In the 2nd minute, David Banegas left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The Esmeralda AFC fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 1-0. 6 minutes into the match, Roceira SC's goal looked a bit too open when Andrew Dalli came free, but Marcell Barovero reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. The supporters of Roceira SC booed when Esmeralda AFC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 8 match minutes in a wonderful position. Cecilio Otsando didn't get a good kick on the ball. Esmeralda AFC's David Banegas came free and shot a quick shot against goal 11 minutes in the game, fortunately Marcell Barovero had problems saving as it came toward the left post. 13 minutes into the match, Roceira SC's goalkeeper Marcell Barovero had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Zülfü Sungur. Sebastian Tauro sent away a hard shot on goal in the 15th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After 21 minutes Roceira SC's defender was forced to head the ball over the line for a corner. It was Kong Kun Xu who took care of the corner kick. Zülfü Sungur came free with the goalkeeper in the 24th minute of the match, and shot straight on target. The shot was a little too simple and Marcell Barovero could save by the left post. Marcell Barovero made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Eloy Calvino in the 31st minute of play. After 36 minutes, Andrew Dalli made it 2-0 with a short kick to the right side. Roceira SC's Marcell Barovero tried to save the shot but he was too slow in reacting to the shot. An unexpectedly hard shot by Michel Haaland in the 39th minute of play forced Esmeralda AFC's goalkeeper Jorge Armani to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 40th minute, Andrew Dalli ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Marcell Barovero was frozen by the shot and now it was 3-0. A collision led to Esmeralda AFC getting a freekick after 43 minutes play. Niceto Matxin hit a great ball. After 44 minutes of play, Roceira SC's Ksawery Winnicki made it 3-1 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Jorge Armani was left in no man's land by his defense there! No-one was surprised that the home team were leading 3-1 at half-time.

Roceira SC made a substitution. Dedê Oliveira replaced Aílton Damião. The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Andrew Dalli was the one to do the kick off. In the 56th minute of the match Esmeralda AFC got a corner. Roceira SC's goalie ran out to the linesman to protest the call, but the linesman resolutely pointed his flag at the cornerflag. Kong Kun Xu ran over to the corner to take the kick. The corner ended in Kong Kun Xu almost managing to get the ball behind the net, but Roceira SC's Marcell Barovero did a great save. Marcell Barovero took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Andrew Dalli, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. After a defensive mix-up in Esmeralda AFC's zone, Dedê Oliveira stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Jorge Armani came out of the goal and Dedê Oliveira tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. In the 64th minute Andrew Dalli shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Marcell Barovero saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. 66 minutes into the game, Esmeralda AFC's David Banegas nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Marcell Barovero made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 4-1. Hulk Speed's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Jorge Armani read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 71st minute of play. Ksawery Winnicki could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 72nd minute of the match, but Jorge Armani made a huge save. Esmeralda AFC's attacker deliberately struck the ball against an opponent to win a corner for his team. The corner was taken by Kong Kun Xu in the 75th minute. Eloy Calvino made a great header on Esmeralda AFC's corner, it was just that Roceira SC's Marcell Barovero managed to reach the ball for a save. Marcell Barovero showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from David Banegas, who was totally free with the ball in the 79th minute. David Banegas scored 5-1 in the 79th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Marcell Barovero, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. Esmeralda AFC's Zülfü Sungur was first on the ball when the corner was shot and he dangerously headed the ball towards goal, but Marcell Barovero in the goal jumped up to prevent it from getting in. In the 88th minute, Michel Haaland made a precise shot to the right of Jorge Armani. Esmeralda AFC's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 5-2. 94 minutes into the match, Eloy Calvino had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Marcell Barovero. Roceira SC's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Eloy Calvino was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 6-2. The Esmeralda AFC support was delighted with a win in a match that could easily have ended differently.