Challenge

Lucas E. Abalos
Spectators: 40 (Terracing: 31, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Abram Sarmiento started the match with the kick off. Pedro Manzanares made an important save on a dangerous shot by Rene Sanson in the 3rd minute. A collision led to Abuba Akotonon FC getting a freekick after 10 minutes play. Rene Sanson hit a great ball. Hugo Orlando Gatti made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Axel Montenegro in the 13th minute of play. In the 14th minute, Vânderson Barbosa fired away a shot on goal. He put a little to much spin on the ball and sent it just wide of the right post. 1-0 became the score in the 16th minute when Cecilio Tristan elegantly shot the ball into goal just under the crossbar. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Cecilio Tristan in the 19th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Pedro Manzanares saved Colombia from getting behind. When the match had gone on for 19 minutes, Cecilio Tristan put it in 2-0 from a short distance just to the right of Pedro Manzanares. Axel Montenegro blasted a shot towards the goal in the 27th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Hugo Orlando Gatti having to make a save. The supporters of Colombia booed when Abuba Akotonon FC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 33 match minutes in a wonderful position. Lance Veloz didn't get a good kick on the ball. Pedro Manzanares made a fantastic save in the 35th minute, when Cecilio Tristan sent off a good shot on target. Hugo Orlando Gatti didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Axel Montenegro went, in the 39th minute, to the upper right corner, 2-1 was the resulting score. 44 minutes into the game, Colombia's Santino Seco nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Hugo Orlando Gatti made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 2-2. After fighting hard for a draw in the first half, the players were able to take a much needed rest.

Pedro Manzanares showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Genaro Elivareo, who was totally free with the ball in the 52nd minute. In the 53rd minute, Colombia's Axel Montenegro dribbled the ball into the box and hit a shot with the outside of his foot, sending the keeper the wrong way. 2-3. Colombia's Santino Seco quite brazenly broke a throw-in by J.J Okocha, made in the 58th minute of the game. Santino Seco's late challenge caught a Abuba Akotonon FC's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Santino Seco helped the player get up and apologised. After some careless play in the Colombia defense, Cecilio Tristan kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Pedro Manzanares. The Colombia fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Pedro Manzanares should have stopped the shot. Abuba Akotonon FC's Vânderson Barbosa got a good chance for a goal in the 66th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Colombia's Abram Secada was substituted for Axel Montenegro. Colombia made a substitution. Ignacio Mastache replaced Abram Sarmiento. Colombia's Pedro Manzanares played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Cecilio Tristan in the 69th minute of play. Pedro Manzanares showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Genaro Elivareo, who was totally free with the ball in the 71st minute. Pedro Manzanares came out of the goal in the 74th minute to try and stop a shot by Abuba Akotonon FC's Vânderson Barbosa. But to his dismay, Vânderson Barbosa quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 4-3. After a rather tough play, Abuba Akotonon FC's Ramiro Rey got a free kick in the 76th minute. In the 79th minute, Lance Veloz hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. If Vânderson Barbosa had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 81st minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. When Abuba Akotonon FC's Cecilio Tristan in the 81st minute got a chance for a shot 81st didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Colombia's goalie prevented a goal. In the 86th minute, Cecilio Tristan ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Pedro Manzanares was frozen by the shot and now it was 5-3. Abuba Akotonon FC's Ernesto Oxarra was substituted for Ramiro Rey. Abuba Akotonon FC walked away with a well-earned victory that was much celebrated by the crowd.