Challenge

PARS STADIUM
Spectators: 42 (Terracing: 32, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) The mood of the audience was pleasant when Ingmar Bergman made the kick off which started today's match. Thiago Pliego stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Cipriano Ganix's shot from short distance in the 5th minute. The PERSPOLIS fans' excitement grew in the 5th match minute when PERSPOLIS's Cipriano Ganix 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. The audience was convinced that Mariano Lacasa's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Gianluigi Donnarumma was relentless in the 8th minute of the game. 13 minutes into the match, Chile's Mariano Lacasa sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Gianluigi Donnarumma narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Thiago Pliego made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Ingmar Bergman in the 18th minute of play. Thiago Pliego made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Cipriano Ganix in the 26th minute of play. An unexpected shot in the 27th minute by Ingmar Bergman got the crowd on their feet, but to their dismay it went out on the left side. In the 32nd minute, Mariano Lacasa 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. PERSPOLIS's Gianluigi Donnarumma played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Mariano Lacasa in the 35th minute of play. When Ingmar Bergman came up free with the goalie in the 37th minute, the PERSPOLIS 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 Ingmar Bergman couldn't finish the play. Chile's Thiago Pliego proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 39th minute of the match, managed to save Chile from getting a goal against them. 42 minutes into the match, PERSPOLIS's goal looked a bit too open when Mariano Lacasa came free, but Gianluigi Donnarumma reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Gianluigi Donnarumma showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Mariano Lacasa, who was totally free with the ball in the 44th minute. 44 minutes into the match, PERSPOLIS's goal looked a bit too open when Mariano Lacasa came free, but Gianluigi Donnarumma reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Gianluigi Donnarumma didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Mariano Lacasa went, in the 45th minute, to the upper right corner, 1-1 was the resulting score. After fighting hard for a draw in the first half, the players were able to take a much needed rest.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Mariano Lacasa stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. If Mariano Lacasa had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 51st minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. PERSPOLIS's Gianluigi Donnarumma played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Mariano Lacasa in the 51st minute of play. Chile's Mariano Lacasa got a good chance for a goal in the 52nd minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Mariano Lacasa's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Gianluigi Donnarumma read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 57th minute of play. Gianluigi Donnarumma made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Mariano Lacasa in the 60th minute of play. Mariano Lacasa might have been able to make a better finish in the 64th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Gianluigi Donnarumma. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Mariano Lacasa ran back to his position shaking his head. In the 72nd minute the ball was on its way in behind PERSPOLIS's goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. Gianluigi Donnarumma made an important save on a dangerous shot by Mariano Lacasa in the 75th minute. In the 79th minute, Ingmar Bergman left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The PERSPOLIS fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 2-2. After 82 minutes of play, Chile's Mariano Lacasa made it 2-3 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Gianluigi Donnarumma was left in no man's land by his defense there! PERSPOLIS made a substitution. Xelo Dagora replaced Cipriano Ganix. PERSPOLIS made a substitution. Pedro León replaced Bela Herrero. Ingmar Bergman struck a weak shot in the 87th minute. Thiago Pliego didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for PERSPOLIS. After a rather tough play, PERSPOLIS's Axel Uplegger got a free kick in the 88th minute. Guillermo Fontirroig received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 89th minute. Gianluigi Donnarumma tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Gerardo Pozo charged in rather forcefully in the 91st minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Gerardo Pozo the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. Gerardo Pozo hit a great freekick 91 minutes into the match. Gianluigi Donnarumma came out of the goal in the 94th minute to try and stop a shot by Chile's Mariano Lacasa. But to his dismay, Mariano Lacasa quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 2-4. The Chile supporters could be heard counting down the last seconds of the match. They errupted in celebration when the whistle blew, knowing Chile would go home with victory in their luggage after a match that easily could have ended differently.