Challenge

Estadio Lula
Spectators: 44 (Terracing: 34, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) El Salvador's Moises Fernandino 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. Maros Dubovský fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 4th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Ricardo Zorita having to interfere. With a little luck, El Salvador's Ricardo Zorita got control of the ball when Mateo Mergildo tried to sneak it across the goal line. Moises Fernandino charged in rather forcefully in the 9th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Moises Fernandino the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. After a good free kick, Moises Fernandino got an opportunity to smash the ball into the goal, but unfortunately, the ball went just outside the goal, which resulted in a goal kick for Atletico Lula. When the match had gone on for 15 minutes, Mateo Mergildo took a quick shot and it went in 1-0 without a chance for Ricardo Zorita to make any attempt to save it. In the 19th minute, Atletico Lula's Mateo Mergildo ran free of his marker and smoothly shot the ball into the goal behind Ricardo Zorita. Ricardo Zorita yelled at his defense, as they had left him out to dry. 2-0. With a little luck, El Salvador's Ricardo Zorita got control of the ball when Mateo Mergildo tried to sneak it across the goal line. When Maros Dubovský fell near the penalty area in the 33rd minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Atletico Lula's protests and gave Maros Dubovský a yellow card for diving instead. Maros Dubovský kicked well hit freekick during the 33rd minute of the match. The nice shot from Mateo Mergildo in the 37thth minute just in front of the goal should have ended in point on the board, but Ricardo Zorita had a great feel for the game and superbly saved the ball from getting in by the left post. With his leg Ricardo Zorita managed to avoid a goal in the 38thth minute, when Atletico Lula's Mateo Mergildo fired away a shot with a lot of spin towards his right hand side. Mateo Mergildo sent away a hard shot on goal in the 40th minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. Bar Scully struck a weak shot in the 44th minute. Ricardo Zorita didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Atletico Lula. After some fancy dribbling in the 47th minute, Mateo Mergildo managed to get in a good position for a shot. Atletico Lula's supporters rose to their feet, but Mateo Mergildo was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Ricardo Zorita breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. No-one was surprised that the home team were leading 2-0 at half-time.

Ricardo Zorita made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Mateo Mergildo in the 54th minute of play. Lukáč Jančich made a fantastic save in the 56th minute, when Moises Fernandino sent off a good shot on target. Joshua Curbelo's late challenge caught a Atletico Lula's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Joshua Curbelo helped the player get up and apologised. After 57 played minutes El Salvador got a freekick which was hit by Joshua Curbelo. Bar Scully scored 3-0 in the 59th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Ricardo Zorita, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. If Mateo Mergildo had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 61st minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After some fancy dribbling in the 63rd minute, Moises Fernandino managed to get in a good position for a shot. El Salvador's supporters rose to their feet, but Moises Fernandino was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Lukáč Jančich breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Mateo Mergildo might have been able to make a better finish in the 67th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Ricardo Zorita. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Mateo Mergildo ran back to his position shaking his head. In the 67th minute Mateo Mergildo shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Ricardo Zorita saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Lukáč Jančich made a fantastic save in the 69th minute, when Moises Fernandino sent off a good shot on target. The supporters of El Salvador booed when Atletico Lula was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 74 match minutes in a wonderful position. Mateo Mergildo didn't get a good kick on the ball. After 76 minutes of play, Atletico Lula's Mateo Mergildo made it 4-0 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Ricardo Zorita was left in no man's land by his defense there! After some careless play in the El Salvador defense, Mateo Mergildo kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Ricardo Zorita. The El Salvador fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Ricardo Zorita should have stopped the shot. Moises Fernandino hit a great freekick 84 minutes into the match. Ricardo Zorita stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Mateo Mergildo's shot from short distance in the 87th minute. A collision led to El Salvador getting a freekick after 89 minutes play. Joshua Curbelo hit a great ball. Richard Petreje might have been able to make a better finish in the 90th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Ricardo Zorita. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Richard Petreje ran back to his position shaking his head. In the 93rd minute, Moises Fernandino left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The El Salvador fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 5-1. There was no doubt that Atletico Lula were the better team. Atletico Lula's players enjoyed the ovations of the crowd after the victory.