Challenge

Virginia Bolten
Spectators: 40 (Terracing: 31, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) Panama's Tomas Berganza 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. If Paolo Nahia had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 9th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Roque Servando could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 11th minute of the match, but Marcos Cotilla made a huge save. 13 minutes into the game, Fulgencio Baristo was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Acratas Unidos's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Panama the free kick. Fulgencio Baristo kicked well hit freekick during the 13th minute of the match. In the 14th minute, Tomas Berganza left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The Panama fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 0-1. With a little luck, Panama's Marcos Cotilla got control of the ball when Paolo Nahia tried to sneak it across the goal line. Fernan Iban showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Isidoro Sarmiento in the 19th minute of the match. Dylan Sarmiento's late challenge caught a Acratas Unidos's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Dylan Sarmiento helped the player get up and apologised. In the 23rd minute, Dylan Sarmiento hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Daniel Mendez kicked well hit freekick during the 29th minute of the match. With his leg Marcos Cotilla managed to avoid a goal in the 34thth minute, when Acratas Unidos's Paolo Nahia fired away a shot with a lot of spin towards his right hand side. Roque Servando could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 35th minute of the match, but Marcos Cotilla made a huge save. Abraham Alguacil hit a great freekick 36 minutes into the match. In the 37th minute, Daniel Mendez hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. The supporters of Panama booed when Acratas Unidos was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 41 match minutes in a wonderful position. Daniel Mendez didn't get a good kick on the ball. After 48 played minutes Panama got a freekick which was hit by Jose Carita.

The wind increased when Paolo Nahia made the kick off in the second half. In the 53rd minute Paolo Nahia 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. A collision led to Acratas Unidos getting a freekick after 55 minutes play. Fulgencio Baristo hit a great ball. Daniel Mendez was shown his second yellow card after 56 minutes, following a rather ugly tackle on opponent. That was the end of his participation in the match. 56 minutes into the game, one of Acratas Unidos:s players got tackled near the goal, and the referee blew for a penalty. In the 57th minute there was a penalty for Panama. Abraham Alguacil stepped forward and shot the ball to the right of a diving Fernan Iban. 0-2. Fernan Iban showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Tomas Berganza in the 61st minute of the match. In the 64th match minute, Acratas Unidos was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Eusebio Veronica to maneuver through the defense. In the 65th minute of the match, Tomas Berganza tried to roll the ball into the goal by the right post, but Fernan Iban saw his intentions and got control of the ball before it passed the line. Isidoro Sarmiento fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 71st minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Fernan Iban having to interfere. After some fancy dribbling in the 73rd minute, Tomas Berganza managed to get in a good position for a shot. Panama's supporters rose to their feet, but Tomas Berganza was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Fernan Iban breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Aaron Barrios hit a great freekick 75 minutes into the match. When Placido Ilazki came up free with the goalie in the 87th minute, the Acratas Unidos 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 Placido Ilazki couldn't finish the play. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Paolo Nahia during the 89th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. After 89 played minutes Acratas Unidos got a freekick which was hit by Paolo Nahia. Tomas Berganza fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 90th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Fernan Iban having to interfere. With a little luck, Acratas Unidos's Fernan Iban got control of the ball when Abraham Alguacil tried to sneak it across the goal line. If Isidoro Sarmiento had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 96th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. 97 minutes into the game, one of Acratas Unidos:s players got tackled near the goal, and the referee blew for a penalty. The Panama supporters could be heard counting down the last seconds of the match. They errupted in celebration when the whistle blew, knowing Panama would go home with victory in their luggage after a match that easily could have ended differently.