Challenge

Mattojärvi IP
Spectators: 40 (Terracing: 31, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) AIF's Alfred Sandström 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. An unexpectedly hard shot by Tomas Illescas in the 3rd minute of play forced AIF's goalkeeper Jarl Andreasson to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. After a rather tough play, AIF's Mark Forsberg got a free kick in the 3rd minute. When Tomas Illescas came up free with the goalie in the 4th 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. AIF's Alfred Sandström got a good chance for a goal in the 8th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Jarl Andreasson made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Tomas Illescas in the 15th minute of play. After a rather tough play, AIF's Leonardo Hydén got a free kick in the 16th minute. Jonathan Ferrant stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Alfred Sandström's shot from short distance in the 19th minute. In the 22nd minute, Tomas Illescas got an opportunity to score, but he didn't get a solid hit on the ball and ended up kicking it wide of the goal. AIF's Jarl Andreasson played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Patricio Costa in the 23rd minute of play. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Tomas Illescas during the 24th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. A collision led to Venezuela getting a freekick after 24 minutes play. Tomas Illescas hit a great ball. In the 26th minute, Alfred Sandström got an opportunity to score, but he didn't get a solid hit on the ball and ended up kicking it wide of the goal. In the 27th minute, Camilo Gaos hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Jonathan Ferrant took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Emanuel Månsson, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 32nd minute the ball was on its way in behind Venezuela's goalkeeper Jonathan Ferrant, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. Jonathan Ferrant was a little too slow when Erik Odin got a fine hit on the ball which went right into the goal in the 35th minute. The score was now 1-0. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Alfred Sandström in the 41st minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Jonathan Ferrant prevented the ball from getting in the gole. Tomas Illescas might have been able to make a better finish in the 42nd minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Jarl Andreasson. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Tomas Illescas ran back to his position shaking his head. Jonathan Ferrant showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Alfred Sandström, who was totally free with the ball in the 44th minute. If Tomas Illescas had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 46th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. All the noise was coming from the home fans when the whistle went for half-time. The home team had fought hardest to put themselves in a deserved lead.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Tomas Illescas to strike the kick off in the second half. Jonathan Ferrant showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Alfred Sandström, who was totally free with the ball in the 52nd minute. In the 53rd minute of the match AIF got a corner. Venezuela's goalie ran out to the linesman to protest the call, but the linesman resolutely pointed his flag at the cornerflag. Ulf Ekström ran over to the corner to take the kick. A nice corner shot did that Ulf Ekström got away a dangerous shot. Despite this Jonathan Ferrant quite easily got ahold of the ball to make the save. The supporters of Venezuela booed when AIF was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 54 match minutes in a wonderful position. Leonardo Hydén didn't get a good kick on the ball. After a rather tough play, AIF's Leonardo Hydén got a free kick in the 59th minute. If Alfred Sandström had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 62nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 70th minute, Patricio Costa made a precise shot to the right of Jarl Andreasson. AIF's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 2-1. Jarl Andreasson made an important save on a dangerous shot by Tomas Illescas in the 75th minute. Ulf Ekström recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 79th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Jarl Andreasson showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Tomas Illescas in the 81st minute of the match. In the 85th minute Alfred Sandström 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. Tomas Illescas fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 86th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Jarl Andreasson having to interfere. Venezuela's Tomas Illescas got a good chance for a goal in the 88th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Ulf Ekström was probably a little too eager to shoot when he, in the 91st played minute, shot the ball from way out. The shot was hard, but the ball flew wide of the goal. After having played for 93 minutes, Emanuel Månsson managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. AIF's supporters crossed their fingers, but Emanuel Månsson was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. AIF's supporters were highly satisfied with the result. They cheered their team of the pitch, having watched them win a very even match.