Friendly League

La Cucha
Spectators: 36 (Terracing: 28, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Miliano Sacristán started the match with the kick off. 2 minutes into the match, La Gallardeta's Jan-Olof Eliasson sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Mías Khalifa narrowly saved just below the crossbar. When Simbo FC's Miliano Sacristán in the 6th minute got a chance for a shot 6th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye La Gallardeta's goalie prevented a goal. When Jan-Olof Eliasson came up free with the goalie in the 8th minute, the La Gallardeta fans jumped to their feet. But the shot missed the goal by a fraction of an inch, and the fans sat back down disappointed that Jan-Olof Eliasson couldn't finish the play. In the 13th minute of the match, Niceto Nafarroa got a very nice opportunity to score, but Belchior Saldanha was well-placed and pushed the ball away from the goal at the left post. The corner went over the outstretched arms of La Gallardeta's goalie and right to Niceto Nafarroa. He fired away a shot at goal, but the shot had too much spin, and it went just outside the goal. La Gallardeta's manager breathed a sigh of relief on the sidelines as his team had managed to escape an almost certain goal. The throw-in from Sabri Ravelli in the 19th minute of the game was unfortunally taken care of by La Gallardeta's Clemente Anaya. With an all-out effort, Simbo FC's Belchior Saldanha threw himself towards the right post 21 minutes into the match and grabbed hold of the ball from Miliano Sacristán, which otherwise would have been placed in the net. Simbo FC were awarded a corner in the 22th minute after La Gallardeta's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Sabri Ravelli took the corner. The audience was convinced that Miliano Sacristán's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Belchior Saldanha was relentless in the 24th minute of the game. 27 minutes into the game, Bragan McPhil threw the ball into play from the sideline. Simbo FC's Honorato Bibiano quickly snatched the ball and retained possesion. La Gallardeta's Belchior Saldanha played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Miliano Sacristán in the 29th minute of play. 31 minutes into the match, Simbo FC's goal looked a bit too open when Wilfred Vrede came free, but Mías Khalifa reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Mías Khalifa didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Wilfred Vrede went, in the 31st minute, to the upper right corner, 0-1 was the resulting score. Jan-Olof Eliasson took the ball and in the 35 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Mías Khalifa. Mías Khalifa dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 0-2. 42 minutes had been played when some careless play by La Gallardeta's defense caused the ball to cross the line for a corner. Sabri Ravelli was slow to take the kick. During this time Simbo FC's players had a chance to rest. Carlos Trinidad made a great header on Simbo FC's corner, it was just that La Gallardeta's Belchior Saldanha managed to reach the ball for a save. Even after changing tactics the home team jogged off the field with a 0-2 deficit. They would have to work harder if they wanted to turn things around in the second half.

In the 55th minute Tincho Palermo shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Belchior Saldanha saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Tincho Palermo sent away a hard shot on goal in the 61st minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. In the 75th minute Wilfred Vrede shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Mías Khalifa saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. 79 minutes into the game, Tincho Palermo cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 1-2. Belchior Saldanha was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. Jan-Olof Eliasson sent away a hard shot on goal in the 83rd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Belchior Saldanha took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Nestor Sancho, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. After 86 played minutes Simbo FC got a freekick which was hit by William Weber. Wilfred Vrede sent away a hard shot on goal in the 91st minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. Belchior Saldanha made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Tincho Palermo in the 94th minute of play. The Simbo FC supporters were disappointed that their team didn't take anything from the match, despite matching La Gallardeta's performance. The match ended with a win for La Gallardeta.