Official Cup

Rey de Copas
Spectators: 169 (Terracing: 127, Seating: 39, VIP seats: 3) GERLIROJO Ψ's Martin Jax 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 5th minute Martin Jax shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Juaneizu Merida saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 7th match minute, Nacional was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Camilo Candido to maneuver through the defense. Andres Lastur showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Xu Sha in the 14th minute of the match. In the 17th minute Grabiel Escorcia shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Andres Lastur saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Grabiel Escorcia's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Andres Lastur read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 19th minute of play. When GERLIROJO Ψ's Martin Jax in the 20th minute got a chance for a shot 20th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Nacional's goalie prevented a goal. In the 22nd minute of the match GERLIROJO Ψ got a corner. Nacional's goalie ran out to the linesman to protest the call, but the linesman resolutely pointed his flag at the cornerflag. Nicolas Salomon ran over to the corner to take the kick. The corner led to GERLIROJO Ψ's Joaquin Lopez getting away a dangerous shot that went just outside the goal. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Xu Sha in the 29th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Andres Lastur prevented the ball from getting in the gole. The Nacional fans' excitement grew in the 29th match minute when Nacional's Xu Sha looked to have a clear shot with the ball near the goal. The shot wasn't hard, but the ball still rolled over the goal line to make it 0-1 before the goalkeeper had a chance to intervene. A sloppy throw-in by Joaquin Lopez in the 34th minute of the game went astray and was snapped up by Nacional's Camilo Candido. In the 36th minute, Martin Jax reached a very good position and smashed the ball with a huge effort into the net, just to the left of Juaneizu Merida. The goal made the score 1-1. Joseph Gayoso sent away a hard shot on goal in the 48th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. The first half was very even, with the score at 1-1 when the whistle went for half-time. The players welcomed the break and quickly retired to the dressing rooms.

Grabiel Escorcia might have been able to make a better finish in the 55th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Andres Lastur. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Grabiel Escorcia ran back to his position shaking his head. Adriano Vilanova received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 57th minute. Juaneizu Merida tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. A throw-in in the 61st minute of the game was made by Camilo Candido with Luciano Inverso as target, who quickly passed the ball forward. Andres Lastur stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Grabiel Escorcia's shot from short distance in the 62nd minute. After 62 minutes, Grabiel Escorcia made it 1-2 with a short kick to the right side. GERLIROJO Ψ's Andres Lastur tried to save the shot but he was too slow in reacting to the shot. In the 67th minute, Nacional's Grabiel Escorcia ran free of his marker and smoothly shot the ball into the goal behind Andres Lastur. Andres Lastur yelled at his defense, as they had left him out to dry. 1-3. GERLIROJO Ψ's Epifanio Ibañez was substituted for Martin Jax. GERLIROJO Ψ's Eleuterio Benvido was substituted for Arnout Van den Wyngaert. With an all-out effort, Nacional's Andres Lastur threw himself towards the right post 72 minutes into the match and grabbed hold of the ball from Grabiel Escorcia, which otherwise would have been placed in the net. When Grabiel Escorcia came up free with the goalie in the 82nd minute, the Nacional 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 Grabiel Escorcia couldn't finish the play. Juaneizu Merida showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Epifanio Ibañez, who was totally free with the ball in the 84th minute. The Nacional supporters could be heard counting down the last seconds of the match. They errupted in celebration when the whistle blew, knowing Nacional would go home with victory in their luggage after a match that easily could have ended differently.