Challenge

Olímpico Jaime Morón
Spectators: 43 (Terracing: 33, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when Sreten Popovic kicked off to start the match. After a rather tough play, Real Cartagena's Gustavo Gomez got a free kick in the 3rd minute. Sreten Popovic fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 5th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Edwin Devine having to interfere. After 7th play minutes Harris Geraets shot 1-0, a short shot which went by Zvezdan Nedeljkovic and just under the crossbar into goal. Zvezdan Nedeljkovic stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Harris Geraets's shot from short distance in the 11th minute. When the match had gone on for 20 minutes, Harris Geraets took a quick shot and it went in 2-0 without a chance for Zvezdan Nedeljkovic to make any attempt to save it. 23 minutes into the game, Momir Gisic threw the ball into play from the sideline. Real Cartagena's Ixona Gondin quickly snatched the ball and retained possesion. Zvezdan Nedeljkovic was in the perfect position, and the defense had done a good job marking him, but Harris Geraets showcased his skills and made a perfect shot to score 3-0 in the 26 minute of play. In the 33rd minute, Harris Geraets 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. Vladeta Jovic hit a great freekick 35 minutes into the match. In the 41st minute, Momir Gisic hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Harris Geraets in the 43rd minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Zvezdan Nedeljkovic prevented the ball from getting in the gole. Harris Geraets might have been able to make a better finish in the 45th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Zvezdan Nedeljkovic. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Harris Geraets ran back to his position shaking his head. No-one was surprised that the home team were leading 3-0 at half-time.

The wind increased when Harris Geraets made the kick off in the second half. In the 52nd minute of the match Alonzo Helguera sent off a long shot with destination to the right of the goalkeeper, but Zvezdan Nedeljkovic skillfully saved the ball. In the 54th match minute, Serbia was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Momir Gisic to maneuver through the defense. After having played for 59 minutes, Chus Ayarza managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Real Cartagena's supporters crossed their fingers, but Chus Ayarza was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Harris Geraets fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 62nd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Zvezdan Nedeljkovic having to interfere. Zvezdan Nedeljkovic showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Harris Geraets in the 64th minute of the match. After 80 minutes of play, Real Cartagena's Harris Geraets made it 4-0 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Zvezdan Nedeljkovic was left in no man's land by his defense there! 84 minutes into the game, Momir Gisic was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Serbia's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Real Cartagena the free kick. In the 85th minute of the game Sreten Popovic made a throw-in which Vladeta Jovic played forward. If Harris Geraets had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 89th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Real Cartagena's Louis Vinyals was substituted for Harris Geraets. The supporters of Real Cartagena booed when Serbia was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 91 match minutes in a wonderful position. Cvijetin Nanusevski didn't get a good kick on the ball. 93 minutes into the match, Serbia's goal looked a bit too open when Louis Vinyals came free, but Zvezdan Nedeljkovic reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Real Cartagena walked away with a well-earned victory that was much celebrated by the crowd.