Challenge

PARS STADIUM
Spectators: 42 (Terracing: 32, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Tomas Illescas took the kick off in the first half of the match. 3 minutes into the match, PERSPOLIS's goal looked a bit too open when Tomas Illescas came free, but Gianluigi Donnarumma reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Cipriano Ganix sent away a hard shot on goal in the 5th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Facundo Feria who was well placed in front of the goal fired away a dangerous shot that in the 9thth minute tested the skills of Jonathan Ferrant when he managed to save the team from getting behind. 1-0 became the score in the 10th minute when Facundo Feria elegantly shot the ball into goal just under the crossbar. PERSPOLIS's Gianluigi Donnarumma played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Patricio Costa in the 13th minute of play. Facundo Feria came free with the goalkeeper in the 15th minute of the match, and shot straight on target. The shot was a little too simple and Jonathan Ferrant could save by the left post. Jonathan Ferrant made an important save on a dangerous shot by Facundo Feria in the 16th minute. Venezuela's Jonathan Ferrant proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 18th minute of the match, managed to save Venezuela from getting a goal against them. Jose Correa hit a great freekick 18 minutes into the match. In the 19th minute, Facundo Feria fired away a killer shot towards the goal that, to the delight of Jonathan Ferrant, passed just outside the right post. Gianluigi Donnarumma took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Tomas Illescas, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. 21 minutes into the match, Cipriano Ganix had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Jonathan Ferrant. Venezuela's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Cipriano Ganix was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 2-0. Tomas Illescas sent away a hard shot on goal in the 25th minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. In the 28th minute Cipriano Ganix 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. Jonathan Ferrant stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Cipriano Ganix's shot from short distance in the 35th minute. In the 38th match minute, PERSPOLIS was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Bela Herrero to maneuver through the defense. After having played for 41 minutes, Tomas Illescas managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Venezuela's supporters crossed their fingers, but Tomas Illescas was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. No-one was surprised that the home team were leading 2-0 at half-time.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Cipriano Ganix stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Tomas Illescas in the 52nd minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Gianluigi Donnarumma prevented the ball from getting in the gole. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Tomas Illescas in the 57th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Gianluigi Donnarumma saved PERSPOLIS from getting behind. When Constantino Salgado fell near the penalty area in the 58th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored PERSPOLIS's protests and gave Constantino Salgado a yellow card for diving instead. The supporters of Venezuela booed when PERSPOLIS was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 58 match minutes in a wonderful position. Constantino Salgado didn't get a good kick on the ball. After some fancy dribbling in the 59th minute, Tomas Illescas managed to get in a good position for a shot. Venezuela's supporters rose to their feet, but Tomas Illescas was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Gianluigi Donnarumma breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Cipriano Ganix fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 61st minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Jonathan Ferrant having to interfere. Cipriano Ganix recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 64th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. The audience was convinced that Ingmar Bergman's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Jonathan Ferrant was relentless in the 67th minute of the game. Gianluigi Donnarumma showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Tomas Illescas in the 73rd minute of the match. Venezuela's Jonathan Ferrant played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Ingmar Bergman in the 78th minute of play. Jonathan Ferrant showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Ingmar Bergman, who was totally free with the ball in the 78th minute. Cipriano Ganix fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 83rd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Jonathan Ferrant having to interfere. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Ingmar Bergman in the 89th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Jonathan Ferrant saved Venezuela from getting behind. PERSPOLIS were awarded a corner in the 91th minute after Venezuela's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Honorio Carceles took the corner. A nice corner shot did that Honorio Carceles got away a dangerous shot. Despite this Jonathan Ferrant quite easily got ahold of the ball to make the save. Constantino Salgado sent away a hard shot on goal in the 92nd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Gianluigi Donnarumma made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Tomas Illescas in the 94th minute of play. PERSPOLIS's fans were exulted and cheered after their team won in a match that could easily have gone the other way.