Official Cup

Qemal Stafa
Spectators: 155 (Terracing: 117, Seating: 35, VIP seats: 3) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when Cristoforo De Luca kicked off to start the match. Branden Shelton stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Gabriele Batistuta's shot from short distance in the 3rd minute. After 3 played minutes Menchu FC got a freekick which was hit by Roberto Carlo. Gabriele Batistuta might have been able to make a better finish in the 9th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Branden Shelton. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Gabriele Batistuta ran back to his position shaking his head. Branden Shelton showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Gabriele Batistuta, who was totally free with the ball in the 9th minute. In the 10th minute of the match, Paco Cano tried to roll the ball into the goal by the right post, but Camilo Salvidor saw his intentions and got control of the ball before it passed the line. 12 minutes into the match, Gabriele Batistuta notched a goal, 0-1, to the right of K.F TIRANA's Branden Shelton. Branden Shelton was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. Gabriele Batistuta blasted a shot towards the goal in the 19th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Branden Shelton having to make a save. 19 minutes into the match, K.F TIRANA's goal looked a bit too open when Gabriele Batistuta came free, but Branden Shelton reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Gabriele Batistuta in the 20th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Branden Shelton saved K.F TIRANA from getting behind. Roberto Carlo kicked well hit freekick during the 21st minute of the match. Branden Shelton showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Gabriele Batistuta in the 23rd minute of the match. Branden Shelton made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Gabriele Batistuta in the 25th minute of play. If Gabriele Batistuta had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 26th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. In the 26th minute Gabriele Batistuta shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Branden Shelton saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Gabriele Batistuta's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Branden Shelton read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 28th minute of play. A sloppy throw-in by Marsel Spaha in the 31st minute of the game went astray and was snapped up by Menchu FC's Caetano Linhares. In the 33rd minute, Gabriele Batistuta made a precise shot to the right of Branden Shelton. K.F TIRANA's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 0-2. The audience was convinced that Gabriele Batistuta's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Branden Shelton was relentless in the 36th minute of the game. In the 39th minute, Gabriele Batistuta got an opportunity to score, but he didn't get a solid hit on the ball and ended up kicking it wide of the goal. 40 minutes into the match, Gabriele Batistuta notched a goal, 0-3, to the right of K.F TIRANA's Branden Shelton. Branden Shelton was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. Coronel Durango could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 47th minute of the match, but Camilo Salvidor made a huge save. The K.F TIRANA players were disheartened as they walked off the pitch after the first half. Menchu FC were winning 0-3.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Gabriele Batistuta made a kick off. Branden Shelton made an important save on a dangerous shot by Uriel Gorri in the 51st minute. In the 51st minute, Menchu FC's Uriel Gorri ran free of his marker and smoothly shot the ball into the goal behind Branden Shelton. Branden Shelton yelled at his defense, as they had left him out to dry. 0-4. In the 55th minute, Gabriele Batistuta made a precise shot to the right of Branden Shelton. K.F TIRANA's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 0-5. Uriel Gorri took the ball and in the 60 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Branden Shelton. Branden Shelton dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 0-6. A hard shot 66 in the game by Uriel Gorri from a close distance when the talented Branden Shelton managed to make a qualified save. K.F TIRANA's players were relieved. Menchu FC's Primitivo Rocendo was substituted for Uriel Gorri. 71 minutes had been played when some careless play by K.F TIRANA's defense caused the ball to cross the line for a corner. Lucas Martínez Quarta was slow to take the kick. During this time Menchu FC's players had a chance to rest. In the 74th minute of the match, Abdoulay Doucouré tried to roll the ball into the goal by the right post, but Branden Shelton saw his intentions and got control of the ball before it passed the line. In the 75th minute Abdoulay Doucouré shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Branden Shelton saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Branden Shelton made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Abdoulay Doucouré in the 77th minute of play. A collision led to K.F TIRANA getting a freekick after 78 minutes play. Coronel Durango hit a great ball. Primitivo Rocendo took the ball and in the 84 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Branden Shelton. Branden Shelton dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 0-7. In the 87th minute Coronel Durango shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Camilo Salvidor saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Paco Cano took the ball and in the 91 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Camilo Salvidor. Camilo Salvidor dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 1-7. Menchu FC's Silverio Sergi was substituted for Armando Roland. K.F TIRANA's Branden Shelton proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 95th minute of the match, managed to save K.F TIRANA from getting a goal against them. Menchu FC's fans were overjoyed with their teams well-earned victory and stayed in the stadium long after the final whistle to celebrate the win.