Challenge

Pier Luigi Penzo
Spectators: 40 (Terracing: 31, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) Santos Ferdinand started the match with the kick off in front of an excited audience. In the 14th minute, Bernabe Cidro ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Jonathan Ferrant was frozen by the shot and now it was 1-0. After 17 minutes, Joshua Secada mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Venezuela and the Venezia FC players grew even worse after the yellow card. Joshua Secada hit a great freekick 17 minutes into the match. After 18 played minutes, Venezia FC's Domingo Lidon shot from a long distance, and at first it looked like the ball was going into the goal, but the goalkeeper Jonathan Ferrant came through and got his fingers on the ball before it flew over the goal line. He then quickly gripped the ball tighter before the forwards in Venezia FC reached it. With an all-out effort, Venezia FC's Jonathan Ferrant threw himself towards the right post 19 minutes into the match and grabbed hold of the ball from Santos Ferdinand, which otherwise would have been placed in the net. Domingo Lidon hit a great freekick 21 minutes into the match. Tomas Illescas might have been able to make a better finish in the 23rd minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Amado Larra. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Tomas Illescas ran back to his position shaking his head. Arturo Cordera received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 26th minute. Jonathan Ferrant tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. If Tomas Illescas had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 28th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Jonathan Ferrant showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Santos Ferdinand, who was totally free with the ball in the 31st minute. After 32 played minutes Venezia FC got a freekick which was hit by Domingo Lidon. When Venezuela's Tomas Illescas in the 38th minute got a chance for a shot 38th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Venezia FC's goalie prevented a goal. Amado Larra stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Tomas Illescas's shot from short distance in the 40th minute. After 41 minutes Venezia FC's defender was forced to head the ball over the line for a corner. It was Tomas Illescas who took care of the corner kick. In the 45th minute Tomas Illescas shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Amado Larra saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 47th minute, Venezia FC's Santos Ferdinand ran free of his marker and smoothly shot the ball into the goal behind Jonathan Ferrant. Jonathan Ferrant yelled at his defense, as they had left him out to dry. 2-0. The home fans were very happy to see their team leading 2-0 at half-time.

Joshua Secada took a chance and fired a shot far from the goal in the 55th minute, but it turned out to be a dangerous situation for Amado Larra. Venezia FC's goalkeeper really had to stretch himself to stop the ball from crossing the goal line. Tomas Illescas scored 2-1 in the 57th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Amado Larra, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. The audience was convinced that Santos Ferdinand's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Jonathan Ferrant was relentless in the 61st minute of the game. JohnObi Mikel hit a great freekick 62 minutes into the match. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Jose Correa during the 65th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. After 67 played minutes, Venezia FC's Domingo Lidon shot from a long distance, and at first it looked like the ball was going into the goal, but the goalkeeper Jonathan Ferrant came through and got his fingers on the ball before it flew over the goal line. He then quickly gripped the ball tighter before the forwards in Venezia FC reached it. If Santos Ferdinand had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 68th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. 70 minutes into the match, Venezia FC's Bartolo Ezkerra sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Jonathan Ferrant narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Patricio Costa might have been able to make a better finish in the 71st minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Amado Larra. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Patricio Costa ran back to his position shaking his head. Tomas Illescas fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 77th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Amado Larra having to interfere. 78 minutes into the match, Venezia FC's Santos Ferdinand sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Jonathan Ferrant narrowly saved just below the crossbar. 79 minutes into the game, Tomas Illescas was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Venezuela's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Venezia FC the free kick. After 79 played minutes Venezuela got a freekick which was hit by Tomas Illescas. Domingo Lidon hit a great freekick 82 minutes into the match. Venezuela's Patricio Costa got a good chance for a goal in the 88th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Patricio Costa received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 90th minute. Amado Larra tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. 94 minutes into the match, Venezia FC's goal looked a bit too open when Joshua Secada came free, but Amado Larra reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. A collision led to Venezuela getting a freekick after 96 minutes play. Patricio Costa hit a great ball. The referee blew his whistle, and the match came to a close. The players exchanged shirts and headed down the tunnel. The Venezia FC fans cheered their team off the field, for while Venezuela had put up a good fight, they were unable to come out of the game with any points to show for their effort.