U23 League

Gran Parque Central
Spectators: 206 (Terracing: 155, Seating: 47, VIP seats: 4) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Podador Raheiro got the match started through his kick off. Ilkka Markkula showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Ursino Brunet, who was totally free with the ball in the 5th minute. Nacional were awarded a corner in the 6th minute after Club Deportes Santa Cruz's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Leonides Trarigo took the corner. After taking down the ball on Nacional's corner Leonides Trarigo fired away a hard shot, but the defenders efficiently covered the most dangerous angles and Ilkka Markkula quite easily take care of the ball. Nacional's Juaneizu Merida played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Podador Raheiro in the 13th minute of play. 17 minutes into the match, Nacional's Jiang Chen Lin sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Ilkka Markkula narrowly saved just below the crossbar. In the 19th minute, Podador Raheiro left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The Club Deportes Santa Cruz fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 0-1. In the 21st minute, Ursino Brunet 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. Juaneizu Merida showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Podador Raheiro, who was totally free with the ball in the 31st minute. Juaneizu Merida showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Raimundo Tupper, who was totally free with the ball in the 33rd minute. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Podador Raheiro in the 35th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Juaneizu Merida saved Nacional from getting behind. After a rather tough play, Nacional's Walme Yurre got a free kick in the 36th minute. In the 39th minute Podador Raheiro shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Juaneizu Merida saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Hüseyin Rahmi Toper hit a great freekick 46 minutes into the match.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Ursino Brunet stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. After a defensive mix-up in Club Deportes Santa Cruz's zone, Leonides Trarigo stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Ilkka Markkula came out of the goal and Leonides Trarigo tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Nacional's Juaneizu Merida played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Yan Zhi Chuan in the 56th minute of play. Juaneizu Merida showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Yan Zhi Chuan in the 62nd minute of the match. 66 minutes into the match, Nacional's goal looked a bit too open when Yan Zhi Chuan came free, but Juaneizu Merida reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. With an all-out effort, Club Deportes Santa Cruz's Juaneizu Merida threw himself towards the right post 73 minutes into the match and grabbed hold of the ball from Yan Zhi Chuan, which otherwise would have been placed in the net. In the 77th minute, Walme Yurre hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Nacional's Juaneizu Merida played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Yan Zhi Chuan in the 79th minute of play. After a rather tough play, Nacional's Walme Yurre got a free kick in the 83rd minute. In the 84th minute Yan Zhi Chuan shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Juaneizu Merida saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. The throw-in from Walme Yurre in the 86th minute of the game was unfortunally taken care of by Club Deportes Santa Cruz's Hüseyin Rahmi Toper. Felipe Carballo kicked well hit freekick during the 91st minute of the match. The audience thought a goal was coming when Gilberto Sandoval got free with Juaneizu Merida in the 92nd minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. 95 minutes into the match, Club Deportes Santa Cruz's goal looked a bit too open when Ursino Brunet came free, but Ilkka Markkula reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. The Club Deportes Santa Cruz supporters could be heard counting down the last seconds of the match. They errupted in celebration when the whistle blew, knowing Club Deportes Santa Cruz would go home with victory in their luggage after a match that easily could have ended differently.