Challenge

Ricardo E. Bochini
Spectators: 40 (Terracing: 31, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) The mood of the audience was pleasant when Petros Mousa made the kick off which started today's match. After a defensive mix-up in INDEPENDIENTE FUTBOL CLUB's zone, Albin Holweck stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Pepe Santoro came out of the goal and Albin Holweck tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. He Qiang recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 8th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Petros Mousa could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 10th minute of the match, but Tommy Kahn made a huge save. Pepe Santoro didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Frank Sachs went, in the 11th minute, to the upper right corner, 0-1 was the resulting score. Norberto Fresco in the 14thth minute had a little luck and got a chance for a shot in front of the goal. Without hesitation aimed to the right of Tommy Kahn, who managed to lunge to the right direction and made a save. An unexpectedly hard shot by He Qiang in the 19th minute of play forced Germany's goalkeeper Tommy Kahn to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. The audience thought a goal was coming when Norberto Fresco got free with Tommy Kahn in the 21st minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Tommy Kahn was out of position in the 24 minute of play, and Petros Mousa capitalized on the mistake with a soft shot into the goal. Petros Mousa really showed his touch with that goal: 1-1. Frank Sachs recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 28th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. He Qiang fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 30th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Tommy Kahn having to interfere. A collision led to Germany getting a freekick after 32 minutes play. Frank Sachs hit a great ball. When Frank Sachs got the opportunity to take care of a free kick it resulted in a really dangerous shot that almost went in the goal. Instead the ball went too high, a missed opportunity for Germany. Tommy Kahn made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Norberto Fresco in the 34th minute of play. After 35 played minutes Germany got a freekick which was hit by Chris Mergenthaler. Cao Yue Zheng hit a great freekick 36 minutes into the match. In the 40th minute, Petros Mousa made a precise shot to the right of Tommy Kahn. Germany's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 2-1. Albin Holweck struck a weak shot in the 43rd minute. Pepe Santoro didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Germany.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Frank Sachs made a kick off. The audience thought a goal was coming when Frank Sachs got free with Pepe Santoro in the 58th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. INDEPENDIENTE FUTBOL CLUB made a substitution. Narciso Vergaray replaced Higinio Barros. Tommy Kahn stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of He Qiang's shot from short distance in the 68th minute. Narciso Vergaray's late challenge caught a Germany's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Narciso Vergaray helped the player get up and apologised. If Frank Sachs had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 71st minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Tommy Kahn showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Petros Mousa in the 76th minute of the match. 77 minutes into the match, Germany's goal looked a bit too open when He Qiang came free, but Tommy Kahn reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Tommy Kahn didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from He Qiang went, in the 78th minute, to the upper right corner, 3-1 was the resulting score. 83 minutes into the match, Germany's goal looked a bit too open when He Qiang came free, but Tommy Kahn reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. 87 minutes into the match, Germany's Frank Sachs sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Pepe Santoro narrowly saved just below the crossbar. After 88 minutes INDEPENDIENTE FUTBOL CLUB's defender was forced to head the ball over the line for a corner. It was Frank Sachs who took care of the corner kick. If Albin Holweck had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 92nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. An unexpectedly hard shot by Petros Mousa in the 95th minute of play forced Germany's goalkeeper Tommy Kahn to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. With his leg Pepe Santoro managed to avoid a goal in the 98thth minute, when Germany's Frank Sachs fired away a shot with a lot of spin towards his right hand side. The referee blew his whistle, and the match came to a close. The players exchanged shirts and headed down the tunnel. The INDEPENDIENTE FUTBOL CLUB fans cheered their team off the field, for while Germany had put up a good fight, they were unable to come out of the game with any points to show for their effort.