League

EL FOGON
Spectators: 7298 (Terracing: 5475, Seating: 1678, VIP seats: 145) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Castro Arintero started the match with the kick off. George Salina's late challenge caught a Hercules S.C.'s player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. George Salina helped the player get up and apologised. After 3 played minutes FLAMES OF FIRE got a freekick which was hit by George Salina. FLAMES OF FIRE's Espínola Aguiluz played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Rodolfo Verganza in the 12th minute of play. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Zoilo Arriete in the 14th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Espínola Aguiluz prevented the ball from getting in the gole. 15 minutes into the match, FLAMES OF FIRE's goal looked a bit too open when Rodolfo Verganza came free, but Espínola Aguiluz reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. If Castro Arintero had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 16th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. When Castro Arintero came up free with the goalie in the 26th minute, the FLAMES OF FIRE 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 Castro Arintero couldn't finish the play. Castro Arintero struck a weak shot in the 28th minute. Calle Gallinar didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for FLAMES OF FIRE. After some fancy dribbling in the 31st minute, Ramírez Fresnos managed to get in a good position for a shot. FLAMES OF FIRE's supporters rose to their feet, but Ramírez Fresnos was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Calle Gallinar breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Zoilo Arriete fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 33rd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Espínola Aguiluz having to interfere. Hercules S.C.'s defense didn't have a chance, in the 46th minute, when Castro Arintero scored to the left of an out of position Calle Gallinar, making the score, 1-0. Af the end of the first half the score was 1-0. The first half had gone as expected for the home team.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Rodolfo Verganza to make the kick off. The supporters of FLAMES OF FIRE booed when Hercules S.C. was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 54 match minutes in a wonderful position. Rodolfo Verganza didn't get a good kick on the ball. The audience was convinced that Ramírez Fresnos's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Calle Gallinar was relentless in the 56th minute of the game. 61 minutes into the match, FLAMES OF FIRE's goal looked a bit too open when Rodolfo Verganza came free, but Espínola Aguiluz reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Zoilo Arriete sent away a hard shot on goal in the 67th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After 70 played minutes FLAMES OF FIRE got a freekick which was hit by Nixon Vede. After recieving a nice pass, Hercules S.C.'s Santiago Suarbol tried to score from far away in the 71st minute, but the ball went over the crossbar. With his leg Espínola Aguiluz managed to avoid a goal in the 73rdth minute, when Hercules S.C.'s Rodolfo Verganza fired away a shot with a lot of spin towards his right hand side. After having played for 79 minutes, Castro Arintero managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. FLAMES OF FIRE's supporters crossed their fingers, but Castro Arintero was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Ramírez Fresnos in the 80th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Calle Gallinar saved Hercules S.C. from getting behind. In the 80th minute Rodas Aceituno suffered a thigh injury and had to be helped off the field. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Unax Palmero during the 80th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. A collision led to Hercules S.C. getting a freekick after 81 minutes play. Unax Palmero hit a great ball. Espínola Aguiluz showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Rodolfo Verganza, who was totally free with the ball in the 92nd minute. Both teams had looked equal from kick-off, and no-one was surprised when the match finally ended in a draw.