League Play-Off

José Manuel Moreno
Spectators: 32 (Terracing: 25, Seating: 7, VIP seats: 0) Israel Quinton started the match with the kick off in front of an excited audience. With a little luck, Maxcachilo FC's Narciso Mirande got control of the ball when Hilario Garoa tried to sneak it across the goal line. Teofilo Joachim showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Carlos Chuan in the 8th minute of the match. In the 12th minute Carlos Chuan shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Teofilo Joachim saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Fidel Gonsalvo struck a weak shot in the 14th minute. Teofilo Joachim didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Maxcachilo FC. In the 15th minute the ball was on its way in behind Deportivo Merlo's goalkeeper Teofilo Joachim, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. Hilario Garoa received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 17th minute. Narciso Mirande tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. The supporters of Deportivo Merlo booed when Maxcachilo FC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 19 match minutes in a wonderful position. Fidel Gonsalvo didn't get a good kick on the ball. Narciso Mirande made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Israel Quinton in the 25th minute of play. Maxcachilo FC's Leandro Barros got a good chance for a goal in the 27th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Teofilo Joachim didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Carlos Chuan went, in the 28th minute, to the upper right corner, 0-1 was the resulting score. Maxcachilo FC's Narciso Mirande proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 37th minute of the match, managed to save Maxcachilo FC from getting a goal against them. If Hilario Garoa had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 39th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. The supporters of Maxcachilo FC booed when Deportivo Merlo was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 43 match minutes in a wonderful position. Bartolo Abaunza didn't get a good kick on the ball. Deportivo Merlo's Teofilo Joachim played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Carlos Chuan in the 47th minute of play. After fighting hard for a draw in the first half, the players were able to take a much needed rest.

Maxcachilo FC's attacker deliberately struck the ball against an opponent to win a corner for his team. The corner was taken by Nunez Giraldo in the 53rd minute. Narciso Mirande showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Hilario Garoa, who was totally free with the ball in the 55th minute. Teofilo Joachim took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Valentin Garin, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Teofilo Joachim made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Fidel Gonsalvo in the 63rd minute of play. Honorato Dominix's late challenge caught a Maxcachilo FC's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Honorato Dominix helped the player get up and apologised. In the 75th minute, Honorato Dominix hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Carlos Chuan sent away a hard shot on goal in the 89th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. The supporters of Deportivo Merlo booed when Maxcachilo FC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 93 match minutes in a wonderful position. Fermin Kiliz didn't get a good kick on the ball. 94 minutes into the game, Hilario Garoa cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 2-1. Narciso Mirande was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. Deportivo Merlo's fans were exulted and cheered after their team won in a match that could easily have gone the other way.