Challenge

Santiago benarbéu
Spectators: 40 (Terracing: 31, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Kong Jing Kun took the kick off in the first half of the match. The supporters of Venezuela booed when Los Galacticos was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 8 match minutes in a wonderful position. Long Fan Yang didn't get a good kick on the ball. Camilo Gaos hit a great freekick 9 minutes into the match. Xie Yue Chao sent away a hard shot on goal in the 11th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Venezuela's Jonathan Ferrant played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Kong Jing Kun in the 14th minute of play. 15 minutes into the game, Venezuela's Tomas Illescas nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Zhu Xi made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 0-1. The crowd rose to their feet as Los Galacticos's Kong Jing Kun slotted home a wonderful shot that went in to the left of Jonathan Ferrant. That made the score 1-1 after 18 minutes of play. Patricio Costa kicked well hit freekick during the 22nd minute of the match. Kong Jing Kun sent away a hard shot on goal in the 23rd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Jose Correa kicked well hit freekick during the 24th minute of the match. With a little luck, Venezuela's Jonathan Ferrant got control of the ball when Xie Yue Chao tried to sneak it across the goal line. An unexpectedly hard shot by Kong Jing Kun in the 28th minute of play forced Venezuela's goalkeeper Jonathan Ferrant to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. If Tomas Illescas had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 30th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Jiang Ang Xiao's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Jonathan Ferrant read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 32nd minute of play. Los Galacticos were awarded a corner in the 33th minute after Venezuela's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Jiang Ang Xiao took the corner. The corner led to Los Galacticos's Kong Jing Kun getting away a dangerous shot that went just outside the goal. Kong Jing Kun's late challenge caught a Venezuela's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Kong Jing Kun helped the player get up and apologised. In the 35th match minute, Venezuela was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Patricio Costa to maneuver through the defense. An unexpectedly hard shot by Patricio Costa in the 37th minute of play forced Los Galacticos's goalkeeper Zhu Xi to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. 38 minutes into the game, Patricio Costa cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 1-2. Zhu Xi was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. Jonathan Venegas kicked well hit freekick during the 45th minute of the match.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Tomas Illescas to strike the kick off in the second half. In the 56th minute, Jiang Ang Xiao made a precise shot to the right of Jonathan Ferrant. Venezuela's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 2-2. In the 59th match minute, Los Galacticos was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Vito Linhares to maneuver through the defense. Jonathan Ferrant showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Gilesindo Tarapiella in the 63rd minute of the match. Los Galacticos were awarded a corner in the 66th minute after Venezuela's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Jiang Ang Xiao took the corner. The corner went over the outstretched arms of Venezuela's goalie and right to Xie Yue Chao. He fired away a shot at goal, but the shot had too much spin, and it went just outside the goal. Venezuela's manager breathed a sigh of relief on the sidelines as his team had managed to escape an almost certain goal. Tomas Illescas might have been able to make a better finish in the 69th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Zhu Xi. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Tomas Illescas ran back to his position shaking his head. The audience thought a goal was coming when Tomas Illescas got free with Zhu Xi in the 69th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Tomas Illescas sent away a hard shot on goal in the 71st minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. After 74 minutes, Long Fan Yang mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Los Galacticos and the Venezuela players grew even worse after the yellow card. In the 74th match minute, Los Galacticos was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Long Fan Yang to maneuver through the defense. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Tomas Illescas in the 80th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Zhu Xi saved Los Galacticos from getting behind. In the 82nd match minute, Los Galacticos was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Lu Hong to maneuver through the defense. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Kong Jing Kun in the 85th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Jonathan Ferrant prevented the ball from getting in the gole. Venezuela's Tomas Illescas got a good chance for a goal in the 86th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. After having played for 89 minutes, Tomas Illescas managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Venezuela's supporters crossed their fingers, but Tomas Illescas was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Through an outstanding action, after 89 minutes, Zhu Xi successfully got his hands on the ball before it slid into the goal at the right post. Pablo Aimar fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 91st minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Jonathan Ferrant having to interfere. After some careless play in the Los Galacticos defense, Tomas Illescas kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Zhu Xi. The Los Galacticos fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Zhu Xi should have stopped the shot. The Venezuela players were relieved to hear the final whistle blow to end the match. The away crowd was happy to see their team win after a very tight game.