League Play-Off

Merecito
Spectators: 35 (Terracing: 27, 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. Batista Petino started the match with the kick off. After 5 minutes of play, INVICTUS's Marcelino Urtasabel made it 0-1 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Basajaun Hervias was left in no man's land by his defense there! 9 minutes into the game, Merecito FC's Isadore Ramires nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Benigno Lizarazu made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 1-1. In the 12th minute Roldanillo Piñera shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Basajaun Hervias saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Regis Garrandes received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 14th minute. Benigno Lizarazu tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. INVICTUS's defense didn't have a chance, in the 19th minute, when Isadore Ramires scored to the left of an out of position Benigno Lizarazu, making the score, 2-1. After a defensive mix-up in INVICTUS's zone, Ilixo Lagos stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Benigno Lizarazu came out of the goal and Ilixo Lagos tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. INVICTUS's goalkeeper couldn't reach when Isadore Ramires 24 minutes into the game got a good kick on the ball which found its way into goal just inside left pole. 3-1. With an all-out effort, Merecito FC's Benigno Lizarazu threw himself towards the right post 28 minutes into the match and grabbed hold of the ball from Isadore Ramires, which otherwise would have been placed in the net. Benigno Lizarazu showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Isadore Ramires, who was totally free with the ball in the 35th minute. In the 38th minute of the match, Ilixo Lagos got a very nice opportunity to score, but Benigno Lizarazu was well-placed and pushed the ball away from the goal at the left post. Isadore Ramires sent away a hard shot on goal in the 40th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After a defensive mix-up in INVICTUS's zone, Isadore Ramires stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Benigno Lizarazu came out of the goal and Isadore Ramires tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Batista Petino fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 45th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Basajaun Hervias having to interfere. No-one was surprised that the home team were leading 3-1 at half-time.

Benigno Lizarazu showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Isadore Ramires, who was totally free with the ball in the 52nd minute. An unexpectedly hard shot by Ilixo Lagos in the 55th minute of play forced INVICTUS's goalkeeper Benigno Lizarazu to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. When Merecito FC's Danel Uranga in the 57th minute got a chance for a shot 57th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye INVICTUS's goalie prevented a goal. If Ilixo Lagos had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 61st minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After 67 minutes, Danel Uranga mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Merecito FC and the INVICTUS players grew even worse after the yellow card. A collision led to Merecito FC getting a freekick after 67 minutes play. Danel Uranga hit a great ball. Merecito FC's Basajaun Hervias played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Batista Petino in the 72nd minute of play. The supporters of Merecito FC booed when INVICTUS was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 74 match minutes in a wonderful position. Fonso Burbua didn't get a good kick on the ball. When Lucas Somarribas fell near the penalty area in the 77th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored INVICTUS's protests and gave Lucas Somarribas a yellow card for diving instead. The referee blew the whistle for a penalty in the 77th minute of the game. One of INVICTUS:s players had nearly got his shirt torn off by an opponent while getting free in front of Merecito FC:s goal. 79 minutes into the game, Carlos Echenique cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 4-1. Benigno Lizarazu was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. In the 84th minute of the match, Berriotxoa Utrera tried to roll the ball into the goal by the right post, but Basajaun Hervias saw his intentions and got control of the ball before it passed the line. An unexpected shot in the 90th minute by Batista Petino got the crowd on their feet, but to their dismay it went out on the left side. Through an outstanding action, after 95 minutes, Basajaun Hervias successfully got his hands on the ball before it slid into the goal at the right post. Merecito FC's fans were exulted and cheered after their team won in a match that could easily have gone the other way.