League

Estadio Colangüil
Spectators: 6655 (Terracing: 5000, Seating: 1655, VIP seats: 0) The mood of the audience was pleasant when Santiago Otoniel made the kick off which started today's match. Astor Lapurdi made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Uriel Quinto in the 3rd minute of play. Astor Lapurdi took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Santiago Otoniel, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Silverio Vidal sent away a hard shot on goal in the 9th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. In the 15th minute the ball was on its way in behind Gabriel Batistuta's goalkeeper Teofilo Berto, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. In the 15th minute, Paulino Matthew reached a very good position and smashed the ball with a huge effort into the net, just to the left of Teofilo Berto. The goal made the score 1-0. Donato Oso received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 19th minute. Teofilo Berto tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. After some careless play in the Club Atletico Efra Jrs. defense, Uriel Quinto kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Astor Lapurdi. The Club Atletico Efra Jrs. fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Astor Lapurdi should have stopped the shot. An unexpectedly hard shot by Donato Oso in the 26th minute of play forced Gabriel Batistuta's goalkeeper Teofilo Berto to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Uriel Quinto took the ball and in the 30 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Astor Lapurdi. Astor Lapurdi dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 1-2. If Donato Oso had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 34th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. When Santiago Otoniel came up free with the goalie in the 37th minute, the Gabriel Batistuta fans jumped to their feet. But the shot missed the goal by a fraction of an inch, and the fans sat back down disappointed that Santiago Otoniel couldn't finish the play. After 42 minutes, Santiago Otoniel mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Gabriel Batistuta and the Club Atletico Efra Jrs. players grew even worse after the yellow card. Santiago Otoniel hit a great freekick 42 minutes into the match. Paulino Matthew fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 45th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Teofilo Berto having to interfere. After the first half Gabriel Batistuta were leading 1-2. They had played with great self confidence throughout the first half and fully deserved their lead.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Donato Oso stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. In the 55th minute, Gabriel Batistuta's Santiago Otoniel dribbled the ball into the box and hit a shot with the outside of his foot, sending the keeper the wrong way. 1-3. Uriel Quintos short, quick shot in the 59thth minute got Astor Lapurdi to make great effort and bar the ball away from getting in. Santiago Otoniel sent away a hard shot on goal in the 60th minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. Santiago Otoniel's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Astor Lapurdi read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 62nd minute of play. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Santiago Otoniel in the 66th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Astor Lapurdi saved Club Atletico Efra Jrs. from getting behind. After a rather tough play, Club Atletico Efra Jrs.'s Pablo Silbestre got a free kick in the 67th minute. If Santiago Otoniel had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 71st minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After a defensive mix-up in Club Atletico Efra Jrs.'s zone, Santiago Otoniel stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Astor Lapurdi came out of the goal and Santiago Otoniel tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. After 77 minutes of play, Club Atletico Efra Jrs.'s Paulino Matthew made it 2-4 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Teofilo Berto was left in no man's land by his defense there! Astor Lapurdi showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Santiago Otoniel, who was totally free with the ball in the 83rd minute. In the 85th minute, Paulino Matthew 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. After a rather tough play, Gabriel Batistuta's Jacobo Soin got a free kick in the 86th minute. Amado Brion fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 96th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Teofilo Berto having to interfere. The Club Atletico Efra Jrs. supporters were disappointed that their team didn't take anything from the match, despite matching Gabriel Batistuta's performance. The match ended with a win for Gabriel Batistuta.