Challenge

Monumental R. Mejia
Spectators: 40 (Terracing: 31, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) River de Ramos Mejía's Angelo Grabiel 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. 5 minutes into the match, Panama's goal looked a bit too open when Alejo Maties came free, but Marcos Cotilla reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Marcos Cotilla made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Alejo Maties in the 7th minute of play. In the 9th minute of the match, Abraham Alguacil sent away a good long shot that could have become a goal, but Eleuterio Maureo showed an example of his skillful tending and made the save just under the crossbar. After 13 played minutes River de Ramos Mejía got a freekick which was hit by Serafin Benat. After having played for 13 minutes, Abraham Alguacil managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Panama's supporters crossed their fingers, but Abraham Alguacil was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Isidoro Sarmiento sent away a hard shot on goal in the 15th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After recieving a nice pass, Panama's Abraham Alguacil tried to score from far away in the 17th minute, but the ball went over the crossbar. The crowd rose to their feet as Gabriel-Omar Batistuta kicked a wonderful shot that went in to the left of a diving Marcos Cotilla. That made the score 1-0 in the 19 minute of play. Elliott Falcão hit a great freekick 23 minutes into the match. 24 minutes into the match, River de Ramos Mejía's goal looked a bit too open when Abraham Alguacil came free, but Eleuterio Maureo reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Eleuterio Maureo took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Tomas Berganza, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. After a defensive mix-up in River de Ramos Mejía's zone, Isidoro Sarmiento stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Eleuterio Maureo came out of the goal and Isidoro Sarmiento tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Elliott Falcão in the 33rd managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Marcos Cotilla saved Panama from getting behind. 35 minutes had been played when some careless play by Panama's defense caused the ball to cross the line for a corner. Celestino Eli was slow to take the kick. During this time River de Ramos Mejía's players had a chance to rest. Celestino Eli made a great header on River de Ramos Mejía's corner, it was just that Panama's Marcos Cotilla managed to reach the ball for a save. An unexpectedly hard shot by Miguel Miralles in the 36th minute of play forced River de Ramos Mejía's goalkeeper Eleuterio Maureo to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 39th minute Alex Cambeiro shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Eleuterio Maureo saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 40th match minute, Panama was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Isidoro Sarmiento to maneuver through the defense. In the 42nd minute, Angelo Grabiel hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Marcos Cotilla made an important save on a dangerous shot by Elliott Falcão in the 45th minute. In the 47th minute Alejo Maties shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Marcos Cotilla saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. The away team players looked dejected as the walked off the pitch at half time. They had fought hard, but were still losing 1-0.

The wind increased when Tomas Berganza made the kick off in the second half. In the 50th minute, Abraham Alguacil hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. If Angelo Grabiel had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 51st minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. 52 minutes into the game, River de Ramos Mejía's Alejo Maties nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Marcos Cotilla made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 2-0. Panama's Marcos Cotilla played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Angelo Grabiel in the 55th minute of play. After 56 minutes, Felipe Ros mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Panama and the River de Ramos Mejía players grew even worse after the yellow card. In the 56th match minute, Panama was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Felipe Ros to maneuver through the defense. A collision led to River de Ramos Mejía getting a freekick after 57 minutes play. Alejo Maties hit a great ball. Abraham Alguacil hit a great freekick 58 minutes into the match. In the 61st minute, Matthew Garrido hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. River de Ramos Mejía made a substitution. Ragnar Løth replaced Marcelo Arias. Marcos Cotilla made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Ragnar Løth in the 63rd minute of play. Eleuterio Maureo took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Isidoro Sarmiento, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. An unexpectedly hard shot by Alejo Maties in the 71st minute of play forced Panama's goalkeeper Marcos Cotilla to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 73rdth minute of the game Angelo Grabiel who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Panama's Marcos Cotilla was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. Aaron Barrios hit a great freekick 74 minutes into the match. The supporters of River de Ramos Mejía booed when Panama was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 75 match minutes in a wonderful position. Aaron Barrios didn't get a good kick on the ball. Isidoro Sarmiento hit a great freekick 78 minutes into the match. An unexpectedly hard shot by Gabriel Eguntsenti in the 79th minute of play forced Panama's goalkeeper Marcos Cotilla to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Panama's Marcos Cotilla played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Angelo Grabiel in the 82nd minute of play. Marcos Cotilla took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Gabriel Eguntsenti, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. 86 minutes into the match, Panama's goal looked a bit too open when Gabriel-Omar Batistuta came free, but Marcos Cotilla reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. A collision led to River de Ramos Mejía getting a freekick after 90 minutes play. Serafin Benat hit a great ball. Panama's Marcos Cotilla played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Alejo Maties in the 92nd minute of play. An unexpectedly hard shot by Tomas Berganza in the 95th minute of play forced River de Ramos Mejía's goalkeeper Eleuterio Maureo to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. The referee blew his whistle, and the match came to a close. The players exchanged shirts and headed down the tunnel. The River de Ramos Mejía fans cheered their team off the field, for while Panama had put up a good fight, they were unable to come out of the game with any points to show for their effort.