Challenge

Pedro S. Fernández
Spectators: 39 (Terracing: 30, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) Panama's Tomas Berganza 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. Anier Sanduru showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Tomas Berganza, who was totally free with the ball in the 5th minute. Panama's Marcos Cotilla played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Rolando Dimo in the 7th minute of play. Tomas Berganza took the ball and in the 8 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Anier Sanduru. Anier Sanduru dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 0-1. In the 13th minute, LEON FC's Adan Panfilo dribbled the ball into the box and hit a shot with the outside of his foot, sending the keeper the wrong way. 1-1. If Tomas Berganza had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 16th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After 23 minutes LEON FC's defender was forced to head the ball over the line for a corner. It was Abraham Alguacil who took care of the corner kick. Anier Sanduru took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Abraham Alguacil, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 28th minute Tomas Berganza shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Anier Sanduru saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Adan Panfilo could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 29th minute of the match, but Marcos Cotilla made a huge save. Patricio Pirro hit a great freekick 32 minutes into the match. In the 33rd minute Abraham Alguacil shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Anier Sanduru saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. LEON FC's Anier Sanduru played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Tomas Berganza in the 34th minute of play. 36 minutes into the match, LEON FC's goal looked a bit too open when Tomas Berganza came free, but Anier Sanduru reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Rolando Dimo hit a great freekick 40 minutes into the match. Kazimierz Piekarczyk kicked well hit freekick during the 45th minute of the match. After the first half Panama were leading 1-2. They had played with great self confidence throughout the first half and fully deserved their lead.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Kazimierz Piekarczyk was the one to do the kick off. Tomas Berganza received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 54th minute. Anier Sanduru tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Tomas Berganza might have been able to make a better finish in the 56th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Anier Sanduru. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Tomas Berganza ran back to his position shaking his head. Tomas Berganza received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 58th minute. Anier Sanduru tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Tomas Berganza blasted a shot towards the goal in the 62nd minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Anier Sanduru having to make a save. In the 66th minute of the match, Tomas Berganza tried to roll the ball into the goal by the right post, but Anier Sanduru saw his intentions and got control of the ball before it passed the line. After some fancy dribbling in the 75th minute, Abraham Alguacil managed to get in a good position for a shot. Panama's supporters rose to their feet, but Abraham Alguacil was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Anier Sanduru breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Anier Sanduru showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Isidoro Sarmiento, who was totally free with the ball in the 77th minute. Marcos Cotilla made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Adan Panfilo in the 85th minute of play. After a rather tough play, Panama's Abraham Alguacil got a free kick in the 87th minute. When Kazimierz Piekarczyk fell near the penalty area in the 90th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored LEON FC's protests and gave Kazimierz Piekarczyk a yellow card for diving instead. Kazimierz Piekarczyk kicked well hit freekick during the 90th minute of the match. The final whistle blew with the score still tied, and both teams left the pitch thinking about the missed chances that could have given their team the win.