Friendly League

Ángel Labruna
Spectators: 39 (Terracing: 30, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) La Gallardeta's Fulgencio Gartzi 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. After a rather tough play, AFC FUSION's Thiago Silva got a free kick in the 4th minute. Belchior Saldanha came out of the goal in the 11th minute to try and stop a shot by AFC FUSION's Lino Rios. But to his dismay, Lino Rios quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 0-1. In the 24th minute, Sädräddin Cavadov hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Belchior Saldanha came out of the goal in the 28th minute to try and stop a shot by AFC FUSION's Lino Rios. But to his dismay, Lino Rios quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 0-2. In the 31st minute the ball was on its way in behind La Gallardeta's goalkeeper Belchior Saldanha, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. Roberto Eztebe showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Fulgencio Gartzi in the 34th minute of the match. An unexpectedly hard shot by Lino Rios in the 39th minute of play forced La Gallardeta's goalkeeper Belchior Saldanha to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Disappointed in the 0-2 score, the home team went to the dressing room to adjust tactics for the second half.

The wind increased when Lino Rios made the kick off in the second half. The supporters of La Gallardeta booed when AFC FUSION was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 54 match minutes in a wonderful position. Paul Vase didn't get a good kick on the ball. After recieving a nice pass, La Gallardeta's Alessio Scandella tried to score from far away in the 55th minute, but the ball went over the crossbar. If Lino Rios had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 59th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. Belchior Saldanha made a fantastic save in the 59th minute, when Lino Rios sent off a good shot on target. In the 63rd minute the ball was on its way in behind La Gallardeta's goalkeeper Belchior Saldanha, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. Germano Bettencourt was in a good position and managed to take a shot, but he missed just to the outside of the post. Bragan McPhil's late challenge caught a AFC FUSION's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Bragan McPhil helped the player get up and apologised. A collision led to La Gallardeta getting a freekick after 70 minutes play. Bragan McPhil hit a great ball. AFC FUSION's Jan Hop was substituted for Wojciech Fiszer. The supporters of AFC FUSION booed when La Gallardeta was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 72 match minutes in a wonderful position. Bragan McPhil didn't get a good kick on the ball. The audience was convinced that Lino Rios's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Belchior Saldanha was relentless in the 73rd minute of the game. Bragan McPhil hit a great freekick 77 minutes into the match. La Gallardeta's Belchior Saldanha played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Lino Rios in the 79th minute of play. AFC FUSION's Romulo Abilio quite brazenly broke a throw-in by Bragan McPhil, made in the 82nd minute of the game. In the 83rdth minute of the game Lino Rios who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but La Gallardeta's Belchior Saldanha was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. After a defensive mix-up in La Gallardeta's zone, Lino Rios stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Belchior Saldanha came out of the goal and Lino Rios tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. When Germano Bettencourt fell near the penalty area in the 92nd minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored AFC FUSION's protests and gave Germano Bettencourt a yellow card for diving instead. AFC FUSION made a substitution. Aureliano Karlo replaced Jan Hop. The La Gallardeta supporters were disappointed that their team didn't take anything from the match, despite matching AFC FUSION's performance. The match ended with a win for AFC FUSION.