Challenge

St LuXun Park
Spectators: 50 (Terracing: 38, Seating: 11, VIP seats: 1) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Tomas Illescas took the kick off in the first half of the match. The supporters of Venezuela booed when Australian Youth Academy was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 3 match minutes in a wonderful position. Ollie Flesfadar didn't get a good kick on the ball. Tomas Illescas might have been able to make a better finish in the 8th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Dani Cochrane. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Tomas Illescas ran back to his position shaking his head. Dani Cochrane showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Tomas Illescas, who was totally free with the ball in the 10th minute. In the 12th minute Tomas Illescas shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Dani Cochrane saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. After some fancy dribbling in the 13th minute, Patricio Costa managed to get in a good position for a shot. Venezuela's supporters rose to their feet, but Patricio Costa was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Dani Cochrane breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Dani Cochrane showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Tomas Illescas, who was totally free with the ball in the 14th minute. Dani Cochrane made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Tomas Illescas in the 17th minute of play. Dani Cochrane took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Tomas Illescas, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Australian Youth Academy's Herman Heberle quite brazenly broke a throw-in by Salvador Gisbert, made in the 24th minute of the game. Patricio Costa sent away a hard shot on goal in the 32nd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Tomas Illescas sent away a hard shot on goal in the 38th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Dani Cochrane took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Tomas Illescas, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. After some careless play in the Australian Youth Academy defense, Patricio Costa kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Dani Cochrane. The Australian Youth Academy fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Dani Cochrane should have stopped the shot. After the first half Venezuela were leading 0-1. They had played with great self confidence throughout the first half and fully deserved their lead.

Tomas Illescas could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 52nd minute of the match, but Dani Cochrane made a huge save. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Tomas Illescas in the 54th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Dani Cochrane prevented the ball from getting in the gole. If Tomas Illescas had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 56th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. With his leg Dani Cochrane managed to avoid a goal in the 57thth minute, when Venezuela's Tomas Illescas fired away a shot with a lot of spin towards his right hand side. Patricio Costa received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 59th minute. Dani Cochrane tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Salvador Gisbert made in the 62nd minute of the game a throw-in that took a bad bounce and was taken care of by Australian Youth Academy's Herman Heberle. If Tomas Illescas had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 64th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Tomas Illescas who was well placed in front of the goal fired away a dangerous shot that in the 70thth minute tested the skills of Dani Cochrane when he managed to save the team from getting behind. Dani Cochrane made an important save on a dangerous shot by Tomas Illescas in the 73rd minute. A throw-in in the 77th minute of the game was made by Alex Chicote with Salvador Gisbert as target, who quickly passed the ball forward. If Patricio Costa had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 80th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After a defensive mix-up in Australian Youth Academy's zone, Tomas Illescas stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Dani Cochrane came out of the goal and Tomas Illescas tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Dani Cochrane made an important save on a dangerous shot by Tomas Illescas in the 85th minute. Dani Cochrane made an important save on a dangerous shot by Tomas Illescas in the 88th minute. An unexpectedly hard shot by Patricio Costa in the 90th minute of play forced Australian Youth Academy's goalkeeper Dani Cochrane to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Australian Youth Academy's attentive Ollie Flesfadar managed to snatch the ball when Salvador Gisbert made a throw-in in the 95th minute of the game. Venezuela played a much better game than Australian Youth Academy and deserved their victory. The Australian Youth Academy players were clearly disappointed as they left the ground.