League

Estadio Cantadero
Spectators: 7230 (Terracing: 5424, Seating: 1663, VIP seats: 143) Bernardo Rios started the match with the kick off in front of an excited audience. In the 7th match minute, Rastrojos was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Higinio Eleder to maneuver through the defense. A hard shot by Arnaldo Arotza from long distance, 7 minutes into the match, got Ulises Hunfredo's attention. Through a fast twist with his body, he could stop the ball from going in on his right side. 16 minutes into the match, Deportivo Merlo's goal looked a bit too open when Mariano Malvin came free, but Rafael Ponce reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. An unexpectedly hard shot by Bernardo Rios in the 22nd minute of play forced Deportivo Merlo's goalkeeper Rafael Ponce to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Mariano Malvin sent away a hard shot on goal in the 25th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After a rather tough play, Deportivo Merlo's Ermegildo Lando got a free kick in the 26th minute. Bernardo Rios sent away a hard shot on goal in the 27th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. A collision led to Deportivo Merlo getting a freekick after 32 minutes play. Arnaldo Arotza hit a great ball. Mariano Malvin struck a weak shot in the 35th minute. Rafael Ponce didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Rastrojos. In the 37th match minute, Rastrojos was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Edgardo Francho to maneuver through the defense. Mariano Malvin received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 45th minute. Rafael Ponce tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. The home fans were very happy to see their team leading 1-0 at half-time.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Teobaldo Beat stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. Eriberto Beltran sent away a hard shot on goal in the 55th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Ermegildo Lando sent away a hard shot on goal in the 58th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After some careless play in the Deportivo Merlo defense, Mariano Malvin kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Rafael Ponce. The Deportivo Merlo fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Rafael Ponce should have stopped the shot. If Mariano Malvin had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 70th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. When Honorato Manny came up free with the goalie in the 75th minute, the Rastrojos 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 Honorato Manny couldn't finish the play. 76 minutes into the match, Deportivo Merlo's goalkeeper Rafael Ponce had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Mariano Malvin. Rafael Ponce made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Serafino Colon in the 82nd minute of play. After 89 minutes of play, Rastrojos's Mariano Malvin made it 1-2 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Rafael Ponce was left in no man's land by his defense there! In the 96th match minute, Rastrojos was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Serafino Colon to maneuver through the defense.