Challenge

Open Gallo
Spectators: 40 (Terracing: 31, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Diego Milito took the kick off in the first half of the match. When Deportivo Balvanera's Severiano Taurino in the 6th minute got a chance for a shot 6th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Venezuela's goalie prevented a goal. After 6 played minutes Venezuela got a freekick which was hit by Jose Correa. Candido Jakes blasted a shot towards the goal in the 17th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Jonathan Ferrant having to make a save. Severiano Taurino charged in rather forcefully in the 21st minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Severiano Taurino the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. The supporters of Venezuela booed when Deportivo Balvanera was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 21 match minutes in a wonderful position. Severiano Taurino didn't get a good kick on the ball. Tomas Illescas received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 23rd minute. Abel Neron tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Jonathan Ferrant made an important save on a dangerous shot by Lisandro López in the 26th minute. The audience was convinced that Tomas Illescas's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Abel Neron was relentless in the 29th minute of the game. Patricio Costa sent away a hard shot on goal in the 30th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Tomas Illescas sent away a hard shot on goal in the 32nd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. A collision led to Venezuela getting a freekick after 34 minutes play. Joshua Secada hit a great ball. The first half was very even, with the score at 0-0 when the whistle went for half-time. The players welcomed the break and quickly retired to the dressing rooms.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Tomas Illescas stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. After a defensive mix-up in Deportivo Balvanera's zone, Patricio Costa stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Abel Neron came out of the goal and Patricio Costa tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. 60 minutes in the game, Patricio Costa fired away an excellent shot, which passed to the side of the right post without Abel Neron having to interfere. When Tomas Illescas came up free with the goalie in the 63rd minute, the Venezuela 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 Tomas Illescas couldn't finish the play. In the 68th minute Diego Milito 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. Patricio Costa received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 69th minute. Abel Neron tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Jonathan Ferrant didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Severiano Taurino went, in the 71st minute, to the upper right corner, 1-0 was the resulting score. An unexpectedly hard shot by Candido Jakes in the 75th minute of play forced Venezuela's goalkeeper Jonathan Ferrant to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Abel Neron took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Tomas Illescas, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 83rd match minute, Venezuela was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Patricio Costa to maneuver through the defense. If Patricio Costa had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 90th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 96th minute Marciano Koldobika 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. Many of Venezuela's supporters were seen to leave the ground early as it became clear their team was going to lose. Venezuela may have spent more time on the ball, but Deportivo Balvanera were more willing to take their chances and they walked away with the win.