Challenge

Blue Water Arena
Spectators: 43 (Terracing: 33, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Rune Griffenfeld started the match with the kick off. With a little luck, Venezuela's Jonathan Ferrant got control of the ball when Servet Turabi tried to sneak it across the goal line. 4 minutes into the game, Severin Torbell was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Esbjerg fB's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Venezuela the free kick. Tomas Illescas might have been able to make a better finish in the 5th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Donato Bordon. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Tomas Illescas ran back to his position shaking his head. Donato Bordon showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Tomas Illescas in the 5th minute of the match. After some fancy dribbling in the 7th minute, Tomas Illescas managed to get in a good position for a shot. Venezuela's supporters rose to their feet, but Tomas Illescas was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Donato Bordon breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. In the 10th minute of the match, Rune Griffenfeld tried to roll the ball into the goal by the right post, but Jonathan Ferrant saw his intentions and got control of the ball before it passed the line. When Patricio Costa came up free with the goalie in the 19th 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 Patricio Costa couldn't finish the play. Venezuela's attacker deliberately struck the ball against an opponent to win a corner for his team. The corner was taken by Tomas Illescas in the 21st minute. The Esbjerg fB fans' excitement grew in the 27th match minute when Esbjerg fB's Rune Griffenfeld looked to have a clear shot with the ball near the goal. The shot wasn't hard, but the ball still rolled over the goal line to make it 1-0 before the goalkeeper had a chance to intervene. An unexpectedly hard shot by Rune Griffenfeld in the 30th minute of play forced Venezuela's goalkeeper Jonathan Ferrant to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. The throw-in from Ib Dalsted in the 35th minute of the game was unfortunally taken care of by Venezuela's Salvador Gisbert. Tomas Illescas blasted a shot towards the goal in the 36th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Donato Bordon having to make a save. Venezuela's Jonathan Ferrant proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 38th minute of the match, managed to save Venezuela from getting a goal against them. 41 minutes had been played when some careless play by Venezuela's defense caused the ball to cross the line for a corner. Ib Dalsted was slow to take the kick. During this time Esbjerg fB's players had a chance to rest. No-one was surprised that the home team were leading 1-0 at half-time.

In the 52nd minute of the match, Tomas Illescas got a very nice opportunity to score, but Donato Bordon was well-placed and pushed the ball away from the goal at the left post. An unexpectedly hard shot by Servet Turabi in the 57th minute of play forced Venezuela's goalkeeper Jonathan Ferrant to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. An unexpectedly hard shot by Rune Griffenfeld in the 59th minute of play forced Venezuela's goalkeeper Jonathan Ferrant to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Patricio Costa sent away a hard shot on goal in the 60th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Jonathan Ferrant showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Rune Griffenfeld in the 63rd minute of the match. After some fancy dribbling in the 64th minute, Tomas Illescas managed to get in a good position for a shot. Venezuela's supporters rose to their feet, but Tomas Illescas was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Donato Bordon breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Servet Turabi sent away a hard shot on goal in the 66th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Jonathan Ferrant showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Rune Griffenfeld in the 69th minute of the match. Servet Turabi received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 74th minute. Jonathan Ferrant tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. After some careless play in the Esbjerg fB defense, Tomas Illescas kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Donato Bordon. The Esbjerg fB fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Donato Bordon should have stopped the shot. Rune Griffenfeld recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 80th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. A collision led to Venezuela getting a freekick after 85 minutes play. Jose Correa hit a great ball. In the 89th match minute, Esbjerg fB was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Ib Dalsted to maneuver through the defense. Ib Dalsted made in the 93rd minute of the game a quick throw-in and Max Rambov immediately put the ball in play. An unexpectedly hard shot by Severin Torbell in the 95th minute of play forced Venezuela's goalkeeper Jonathan Ferrant to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Jeers came from both ends of the stadium when the final whistle went. Neither team had looked impressive and the draw seeemd a fair result.