League

Gael Estadio
Spectators: 7969 (Terracing: 5978, Seating: 1833, VIP seats: 158) Rayo Virtudes's Xicu Contreras started the match with a crisp pass. The crowd had been anticipating this game for weeks and the excitement in the stadium was easily visible. In the 3rd minute, Rayo Virtudes's Carlos Ramirez seemed to kick out at an opponent. The referee saw this and, surprisingly, showed Carlos Ramirez the red card, dismissing him from the pitch. The coaching staff of Rayo Virtudes protested bitterly, but the referee would have none of it, and Carlos Ramirez had no choice but to slowly walk off the pitch. In the 9th minute, Santi Hevia left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The Rayo Virtudes fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 1-1. After 12 minutes of play, Rayo Virtudes's Santi Hevia made it 1-2 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Felipe Puyol was left in no man's land by his defense there! Sotil Rienda took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Airas Valdés, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 16th minute John Griful shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Felipe Puyol saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Sotil Rienda showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Medardo Valines, who was totally free with the ball in the 18th minute. If Medardo Valines had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 26th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After a defensive mix-up in Los Cangrejos's zone, John Griful stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Felipe Puyol came out of the goal and John Griful tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. In the 38th match minute, Los Cangrejos was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Baltazar Cienfuegos to maneuver through the defense. Felipe Puyol made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Santi Hevia in the 39th minute of play. After 41 minutes Los Cangrejos's defender was forced to head the ball over the line for a corner. It was Jaime Ortega who took care of the corner kick. Jaime Ortega made a great header on Rayo Virtudes's corner, it was just that Los Cangrejos's Felipe Puyol managed to reach the ball for a save. In the 42nd minute, Serafin Shantala hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Baltazar Cienfuegos charged in rather forcefully in the 45th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Baltazar Cienfuegos the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. The supporters of Rayo Virtudes booed when Los Cangrejos was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 45 match minutes in a wonderful position. Baltazar Cienfuegos didn't get a good kick on the ball. Disappointed in the 1-3 score, the home team went to the dressing room to adjust tactics for the second half.

Sotil Rienda took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Medardo Valines, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 59th match minute, Rayo Virtudes was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Lisandro Abancens to maneuver through the defense. After having played for 60 minutes, Rami Dorado managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Los Cangrejos's supporters crossed their fingers, but Rami Dorado was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. After 67 played minutes Los Cangrejos got a freekick which was hit by Baltazar Cienfuegos. In the 69th minute, John Griful 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. 73 minutes into the match, Rayo Virtudes's goal looked a bit too open when Serafin Shantala came free, but Sotil Rienda reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Sotil Rienda showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Serafin Shantala, who was totally free with the ball in the 76th minute. After 79 minutes of play, the referee blew the whistle. It was a penalty for Rayo Virtudes! In the 81st minute there was a penalty for Los Cangrejos. Rami Dorado stepped forward and shot the ball to the right of a diving Sotil Rienda. 2-3. 84 minutes into the match, John Griful notched a goal, 2-4, to the right of Los Cangrejos's Felipe Puyol. Felipe Puyol was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. In the 88th minute, Rayo Virtudes's John Griful ran free of his marker and smoothly shot the ball into the goal behind Felipe Puyol. Felipe Puyol yelled at his defense, as they had left him out to dry. 2-5. John Griful scored 2-6 in the 90th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Felipe Puyol, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. An unexpectedly hard shot by Medardo Valines in the 94th minute of play forced Rayo Virtudes's goalkeeper Sotil Rienda to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 95th minute, Igor Contratas hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. After having played for 96 minutes, Medardo Valines managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Los Cangrejos's supporters crossed their fingers, but Medardo Valines was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. The away crowd were delighted with the way their team had played and cheered loudly when the final whistle sounded. Rayo Virtudes walked away with the win, even though the match was close until the end.