Challenge

Martin Palermo
Spectators: 40 (Terracing: 31, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) Venezuela's Tomas Illescas 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. In the 4th minute, Miguel Transito left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The Santa Maradona fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 1-0. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Jose Correa during the 10th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. After 10 played minutes Venezuela got a freekick which was hit by Jose Correa. After having played for 11 minutes, Haroldo Martxot managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Santa Maradona's supporters crossed their fingers, but Haroldo Martxot was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. In the 12th match minute, Santa Maradona was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Gervasio Garcia to maneuver through the defense. After 18th play minutes Rodolfo Cordeiro shot 2-0, a short shot which went by Jonathan Ferrant and just under the crossbar into goal. An unexpectedly hard shot by Tomas Illescas in the 22nd minute of play forced Santa Maradona's goalkeeper Jonathan Errapel to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. With his leg Jonathan Ferrant managed to avoid a goal in the 25thth minute, when Santa Maradona's Miguel Transito fired away a shot with a lot of spin towards his right hand side. The supporters of Santa Maradona booed when Venezuela was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 27 match minutes in a wonderful position. Jonathan Venegas didn't get a good kick on the ball. Haroldo Martxot got in the 27th minute a good position and tried a long shot which to a great surprise passed a very astonished Jonathan Ferrant. This was a shot which ended in a score of 3-0. Thanks to some nice moves Laureano Sustrai could shoot a difficult shot in the 33rd minute, which Jonathan Ferrant however easily saved by the left post. 34 minutes had been played when some careless play by Venezuela's defense caused the ball to cross the line for a corner. Haroldo Martxot was slow to take the kick. During this time Santa Maradona's players had a chance to rest. The corner ended in Miguel Transito almost managing to get the ball behind the net, but Venezuela's Jonathan Ferrant did a great save. Venezuela's Jonathan Ferrant played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Miguel Transito in the 36th minute of play. In the 47th minute Miguel Transito shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Jonathan Ferrant saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. When the referee blew for the end of the half the home team players were clearly happier, as they went in to the break leading 3-0.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Miguel Transito was the one to do the kick off. Jonathan Ferrant made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Rodolfo Cordeiro in the 51st minute of play. 54 minutes into the match, Venezuela's goal looked a bit too open when Miguel Transito came free, but Jonathan Ferrant reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Miguel Transito in the 56th 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. In the 58th minute Patricio Costa shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Jonathan Errapel saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. 61 minutes into the match, Santa Maradona's goal looked a bit too open when Tomas Illescas came free, but Jonathan Errapel reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Laureano Sustrai sent away a hard shot on goal in the 68th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. 71 minutes into the game, Felix Ibar was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Santa Maradona's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Venezuela the free kick. In a very dangerous position, a player in Santa Maradona fell when an opponent tried to get the ball from him in the 71st minute. Penalty! Jonathan Errapel came out of the goal in the 72nd minute to try and stop a shot by Venezuela's Tomas Illescas. But to his dismay, Tomas Illescas quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 3-2. 78 minutes into the match, Miguel Transito had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Jonathan Ferrant. Venezuela's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Miguel Transito was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 4-2. In the 80th minute, Miguel Transito left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The Santa Maradona fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 5-2. In the 87th minute, Alex Chicote hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. After some careless play in the Venezuela defense, Rodolfo Cordeiro kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Jonathan Ferrant. The Venezuela fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Jonathan Ferrant should have stopped the shot. Santa Maradona walked away with a well-earned victory that was much celebrated by the crowd.