Challenge

Stadion IRKUT
Spectators: 43 (Terracing: 33, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when Vitaliy Eliseev kicked off to start the match. After a defensive mix-up in Спартак's zone, Tomas Illescas stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Aleksandr Sibirev came out of the goal and Tomas Illescas tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. 11 minutes had been played when some careless play by Спартак's defense caused the ball to cross the line for a corner. Tomas Illescas was slow to take the kick. During this time Venezuela's players had a chance to rest. Salvador Gisbert was in a good position and managed to take a shot, but he missed just to the outside of the post. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Tomas Illescas in the 15th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Aleksandr Sibirev prevented the ball from getting in the gole. Aleksandr Sibirev made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Tomas Illescas in the 17th minute of play. In the 21st minute Tomas Illescas shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Aleksandr Sibirev saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Tomas Illescas sent away a hard shot on goal in the 22nd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After 30 played minutes Спартак got a freekick which was hit by Gerasim Ovchinnikov. Patricio Costa's late challenge caught a Спартак's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Patricio Costa helped the player get up and apologised. After 32 played minutes Venezuela got a freekick which was hit by Patricio Costa. Aleksandr Sibirev made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Tomas Illescas in the 37th minute of play. Elizardo Corrales made in the 39th minute of the game a quick throw-in and Gerasim Ovchinnikov immediately put the ball in play. Elizardo Corrales hit a great freekick 46 minutes into the match.

The wind increased when Tomas Illescas made the kick off in the second half. Спартак's Aleksandr Sibirev proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 51st minute of the match, managed to save Спартак from getting a goal against them. After having played for 56 minutes, Vitaliy Eliseev managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Спартак's supporters crossed their fingers, but Vitaliy Eliseev was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. In the 58th minute, Elizardo Corrales hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. In the 62nd minute, Vitaliy Eliseev made a precise shot to the right of Jonathan Ferrant. Venezuela's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 1-0. In the 67th minute, Patricio Costa fired away a killer shot towards the goal that, to the delight of Aleksandr Sibirev, passed just outside the right post. After some fancy dribbling in the 69th minute, Vitaliy Eliseev managed to get in a good position for a shot. Спартак's supporters rose to their feet, but Vitaliy Eliseev was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Jonathan Ferrant breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. After 73 minutes, Elizardo Corrales mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Спартак and the Venezuela players grew even worse after the yellow card. In the 73rd match minute, Спартак was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Elizardo Corrales to maneuver through the defense. After some fancy dribbling in the 74th minute, Patricio Costa managed to get in a good position for a shot. Venezuela's supporters rose to their feet, but Patricio Costa was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Aleksandr Sibirev breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Venezuela's Tomas Illescas got a good chance for a goal in the 81st minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Vitaliy Eliseev's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Jonathan Ferrant read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 84th minute of play. If Tomas Illescas had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 89th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 92nd match minute, Спартак was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Armin Mustakivi to maneuver through the defense. The Спартак players were eager to celebrate when the final whistle sounded. They had somehow managed to win, even though the away team had held the majority of the possession.