Challenge

Pier Luigi Penzo
Spectators: 40 (Terracing: 31, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) The mood of the audience was pleasant when Tomas Illescas made the kick off which started today's match. Patricio Costa 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. A collision led to Venezuela getting a freekick after 7 minutes play. Patricio Costa hit a great ball. After 9 played minutes Venezuela got a freekick which was hit by Camilo Gaos. After a rather tough play, Venezia FC's Clemente Rodriguez got a free kick in the 12th minute. When Tomas Illescas came up free with the goalie in the 13th minute, the Venezuela 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 Tomas Illescas couldn't finish the play. With a little luck, Venezuela's Jonathan Ferrant got control of the ball when Santos Ferdinand tried to sneak it across the goal line. Venezuela's Jonathan Ferrant proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 16th minute of the match, managed to save Venezuela from getting a goal against them. Santos Ferdinand's shot straight on target was not completely harmless. The ball had pretty good speed, but Jonathan Ferrant firmly grabbed it by the left post. Santos Ferdinand succeeded to score despite a near miss that spronge from right pole into the goal to 1-0 in the 25th playminute. After 27 played minutes Venezia FC got a freekick which was hit by JohnObi Mikel. After a rather tough play, Venezia FC's Bartolo Ezkerra got a free kick in the 29th minute. Amado Larra stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Tomas Illescas's shot from short distance in the 31st minute. If Santos Ferdinand had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 32nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Patricio Costa sent away a hard shot on goal in the 40th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After a rather tough play, Venezia FC's Domingo Lidon got a free kick in the 42nd minute. The home fans were very happy to see their team leading 1-0 at half-time.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Santos Ferdinand to strike the kick off in the second half. Tomas Illescas fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 53rd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Amado Larra having to interfere. A collision led to Venezia FC getting a freekick after 56 minutes play. Domingo Lidon hit a great ball. Patricio Costa sent away a hard shot on goal in the 58th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Patricio Costa was extremely unlucky when he, in the 60th minute, took a shot that hit the right post and went out. Amado Larra made a fantastic save in the 72nd minute, when Tomas Illescas sent off a good shot on target. 78 minutes into the match, Venezuela's Tomas Illescas sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Amado Larra narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Patricio Costa hit a great freekick 78 minutes into the match. After 79 played minutes Venezia FC got a freekick which was hit by Bernabe Cidro. Venezuela's attentive Jose Correa managed to snatch the ball when JohnObi Mikel made a throw-in in the 85th minute of the game. An unexpectedly hard shot by Tomas Illescas in the 91st minute of play forced Venezia FC's goalkeeper Amado Larra to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. An unexpectedly hard shot by Patricio Costa in the 92nd minute of play forced Venezia FC's goalkeeper Amado Larra to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. If Tomas Illescas had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 94th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. For all the effort they put into the match, the Venezuela players left disappointed. They had fought hard, but couldn't break down the home team's defense. The match ended in a win for Venezia FC.