Friendly League

La Bombonera
Spectators: 35 (Terracing: 27, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Elpidio Francis got the match started through his kick off. In the 11th minute, Elpidio Francis 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. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Elpidio Francis in the 13th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Dante Fernendo prevented the ball from getting in the gole. When ESTUDIANTES de la PLATA's Elpidio Francis in the 20th minute got a chance for a shot 20th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Sporting de Gijón's goalie prevented a goal. When the match had gone on for 24 minutes, Elpidio Francis put it in 0-1 from a short distance just to the right of Dante Fernendo. Dante Fernendo came out of the goal in the 28th minute to try and stop a shot by ESTUDIANTES de la PLATA's Elpidio Francis. But to his dismay, Elpidio Francis quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 0-2. In the 33rd minute, ESTUDIANTES de la PLATA's goalie took a deep sigh of relief after Denis Bonadona fired away a hard shot that went just outside the left post. The audience thought a goal was coming when Saturnino Curcio got free with Branislav Velchevski in the 35th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. In the 38th minute the ball was on its way in behind Sporting de Gijón's goalkeeper Dante Fernendo, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. In the 39th minute of the match ESTUDIANTES de la PLATA got a corner. Sporting de Gijón's goalie ran out to the linesman to protest the call, but the linesman resolutely pointed his flag at the cornerflag. Miguel Prosperi ran over to the corner to take the kick. The corner ended in Esteban Iztal almost managing to get the ball behind the net, but Sporting de Gijón's Dante Fernendo did a great save. In the 41st minute ESTUDIANTES de la PLATA were awarded a corner. Miguel Prosperi went to the cornerflag to take it. Disappointed in the 0-2 score, the home team went to the dressing room to adjust tactics for the second half.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Matias Bilintx to make the kick off. After some fancy dribbling in the 60th minute, Diego Maradona managed to get in a good position for a shot. Sporting de Gijón's supporters rose to their feet, but Diego Maradona was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Branislav Velchevski breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. An unexpectedly hard shot by Elpidio Francis in the 64th minute of play forced Sporting de Gijón's goalkeeper Dante Fernendo to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Dante Fernendo made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Elpidio Francis in the 67th minute of play. Elpidio Francis's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Dante Fernendo read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 69th minute of play. Sporting de Gijón's Mario Zanabria was substituted for Alejandro Rufo. A well done corner resulted in Esteban Iztal drilling the ball in to score 0-3 behind Sporting de Gijón's goalkeeper. The supporters of Sporting de Gijón booed when ESTUDIANTES de la PLATA was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 75 match minutes in a wonderful position. Rafael Dalmu didn't get a good kick on the ball. A collision led to ESTUDIANTES de la PLATA getting a freekick after 76 minutes play. Rafael Dalmu hit a great ball. Dante Fernendo showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Elpidio Francis, who was totally free with the ball in the 79th minute. Elpidio Francis's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Dante Fernendo read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 84th minute of play. In the 85th minute of the match ESTUDIANTES de la PLATA got a corner. Sporting de Gijón's goalie ran out to the linesman to protest the call, but the linesman resolutely pointed his flag at the cornerflag. Venancio Havier ran over to the corner to take the kick. ESTUDIANTES de la PLATA's Venancio Havier was first on the ball when the corner was shot and he dangerously headed the ball towards goal, but Dante Fernendo in the goal jumped up to prevent it from getting in. Thanks to some nice moves Elpidio Francis could shoot a difficult shot in the 87th minute, which Dante Fernendo however easily saved by the left post. After having played for 92 minutes, Elpidio Francis managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. ESTUDIANTES de la PLATA's supporters crossed their fingers, but Elpidio Francis was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Branislav Velchevski showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Mario Zanabria in the 94th minute of the match. The ESTUDIANTES de la PLATA supporters could be heard counting down the last seconds of the match. They errupted in celebration when the whistle blew, knowing ESTUDIANTES de la PLATA would go home with victory in their luggage after a match that easily could have ended differently.