Official Cup

Baltasar Lawrence
Spectators: 151 (Terracing: 114, Seating: 34, VIP seats: 3) Polo Quinteros started the match with the kick off in front of an excited audience. Jorge Armani stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Polo Quinteros's shot from short distance in the 3rd minute. In the 3rd match minute, Santa Lucia de Merlo was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Levan Poggenborg to maneuver through the defense. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Andrew Dalli in the 6th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Florentino Herauso prevented the ball from getting in the gole. When the match had gone on for 8 minutes, Polo Quinteros put it in 1-0 from a short distance just to the right of Jorge Armani. In the 10th minute the ball was on its way in behind Esmeralda AFC's goalkeeper Jorge Armani, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. In the 14th minute Andrew Dalli shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Florentino Herauso saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. 16 minutes into the match, Esmeralda AFC's Nicasio Fonda sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Florentino Herauso narrowly saved just below the crossbar. 19 minutes into the match, Santa Lucia de Merlo's goal looked a bit too open when Zülfü Sungur came free, but Florentino Herauso reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. 20 minutes into the match, Esmeralda AFC's goal looked a bit too open when Levan Poggenborg came free, but Jorge Armani reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. 22 minutes into the game, Polo Quinteros cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 2-0. Jorge Armani was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. Florentino Herauso took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Zülfü Sungur, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. A collision led to Santa Lucia de Merlo getting a freekick after 28 minutes play. Edmundo Nóbrega hit a great ball. Florentino Herauso showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Andrew Dalli in the 32nd minute of the match. After 35 played minutes Santa Lucia de Merlo got a freekick which was hit by Polo Quinteros. When Santa Lucia de Merlo's Polo Quinteros in the 42nd minute got a chance for a shot 42nd didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Esmeralda AFC's goalie prevented a goal.

Santa Lucia de Merlo made a substitution. M. Agus Young replaced Polo Quinteros. The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Andrew Dalli stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. 58 minutes into the match, M. Agus Young had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Jorge Armani. Esmeralda AFC's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that M. Agus Young was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 3-0. Florentino Herauso made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Sebastian Tauro in the 64th minute of play. Jorge Armani showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from M. Agus Young, who was totally free with the ball in the 66th minute. Aquilino Quinten kicked well hit freekick during the 68th minute of the match. Esmeralda AFC's Jorge Armani played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by M. Agus Young in the 69th minute of play. Jorge Armani took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from M. Agus Young, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 71st minute M. Agus Young shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Jorge Armani saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. 73 minutes had been played when some careless play by Esmeralda AFC's defense caused the ball to cross the line for a corner. Arnaldo Chano was slow to take the kick. During this time Santa Lucia de Merlo's players had a chance to rest. M. Agus Young sent away a hard shot on goal in the 75th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. The audience was convinced that M. Agus Young's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Jorge Armani was relentless in the 77th minute of the game. If M. Agus Young had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 81st minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. Lê Yang hit a great freekick 81 minutes into the match. Jorge Armani came out of the goal in the 83rd minute to try and stop a shot by Santa Lucia de Merlo's M. Agus Young. But to his dismay, M. Agus Young quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 4-0. Zülfü Sungur sent away a hard shot on goal in the 90th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. 92 minutes into the game, Andrew Dalli recieved a splendid long ball, split the defenders, and gently placed the ball to the left of Florentino Herauso. Andrew Dalli showed that you don't have to tear a hole in the net to score, 5-1. After 98 minutes of play, Esmeralda AFC's David Banegas made it 5-2 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Florentino Herauso was left in no man's land by his defense there! The referee blew his whistle, and the match came to a close. The players exchanged shirts and headed down the tunnel. The Santa Lucia de Merlo fans cheered their team off the field, for while Esmeralda AFC had put up a good fight, they were unable to come out of the game with any points to show for their effort.