Challenge

Jayme Cintra
Spectators: 41 (Terracing: 32, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) Galo do Japi's Carlos Santana 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. Carlos Santana could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 8th minute of the match, but Pedro Manzanares made a huge save. Carlos Santana struck a weak shot in the 12th minute. Pedro Manzanares didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Galo do Japi. Galo do Japi's Ronaldo Giovanelli played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Abram Sarmiento in the 14th minute of play. In the 16th minute, Carlos Santana reached a very good position and smashed the ball with a huge effort into the net, just to the left of Pedro Manzanares. The goal made the score 1-0. Galo do Japi's Ronaldo Giovanelli played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Axel Montenegro in the 19th minute of play. The audience was convinced that Carlos Santana's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Pedro Manzanares was relentless in the 24th minute of the game. In the 26th minute, Galo do Japi's Carlos Santana ran free of his marker and smoothly shot the ball into the goal behind Pedro Manzanares. Pedro Manzanares yelled at his defense, as they had left him out to dry. 2-0. An unexpectedly hard shot by Axel Montenegro in the 30th minute of play forced Galo do Japi's goalkeeper Ronaldo Giovanelli to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Carlos Santana could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 37th minute of the match, but Pedro Manzanares made a huge save. An unexpectedly hard shot by Abram Sarmiento in the 38th minute of play forced Galo do Japi's goalkeeper Ronaldo Giovanelli to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 38th minute Abram Sarmiento shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Ronaldo Giovanelli saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. If Carlos Santana had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 43rd minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. Ronaldo Giovanelli showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Abram Sarmiento in the 45th minute of the match. Af the end of the first half the score was 2-0. The first half had gone as expected for the home team.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Abram Sarmiento made a kick off. In the 52nd minute of the match, Abram Sarmiento tried to roll the ball into the goal by the right post, but Ronaldo Giovanelli saw his intentions and got control of the ball before it passed the line. The audience thought a goal was coming when Axel Montenegro got free with Ronaldo Giovanelli in the 54th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Urpo Kanerva kicked well hit freekick during the 55th minute of the match. Pedro Manzanares took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Carlos Santana, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 65th minute, Carlos Santana made a precise shot to the right of Pedro Manzanares. Colombia's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 3-0. Galo do Japi made a substitution. Zeca Caca-Rato replaced Urpo Kanerva. Colombia's Ignacio Mastache was substituted for Abram Sarmiento. After 72 minutes of play, Colombia's Santino Seco made it 3-1 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Ronaldo Giovanelli was left in no man's land by his defense there! After some fancy dribbling in the 75th minute, Joshua Garrido managed to get in a good position for a shot. Colombia's supporters rose to their feet, but Joshua Garrido was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Ronaldo Giovanelli breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Ronaldo Giovanelli made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Ignacio Mastache in the 76th minute of play. When Colombia's Ignacio Mastache in the 76th minute got a chance for a shot 76th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Galo do Japi's goalie prevented a goal. In the 78th minute, Carlos Santana made a precise shot to the right of Pedro Manzanares. Colombia's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 4-1. In the 82nd minute of the match, Ignacio Mastache tried to roll the ball into the goal by the right post, but Ronaldo Giovanelli saw his intentions and got control of the ball before it passed the line. Ronaldo Giovanelli took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Santino Seco, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Pedro Manzanares made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Carlos Santana in the 90th minute of play. In the 93rd minute Santino Seco shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Ronaldo Giovanelli saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. For all the effort they put into the match, the Colombia players left disappointed. They had fought hard, but couldn't break down the home team's defense. The match ended in a win for Galo do Japi.