League Play-Off

Estadio Alvarado
Spectators: 32 (Terracing: 25, Seating: 7, VIP seats: 0) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Gaspar Lamberto started the match with the kick off. Cultura FC's Simon Quico got a good chance for a goal in the 7th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. After a defensive mix-up in Alvarado FC's zone, Nicanor Maule stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Ismael Quinto came out of the goal and Nicanor Maule tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. When Anacleto Lope came up free with the goalie in the 13th minute, the Alvarado FC 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 Anacleto Lope couldn't finish the play. Anacleto Lope received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 17th minute. Marcos Paulin tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Nicolas Sal during the 20th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. Marcos Paulin made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Anacleto Lope in the 25th minute of play. In the 31st minute, Cesar Frasco 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. Marcos Paulin came out of the goal in the 33rd minute to try and stop a shot by Alvarado FC's Felipe Leizarraga. But to his dismay, Felipe Leizarraga quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 2-0. Ismael Quinto took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Gaspar Lamberto, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Nicanor Maule fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 39th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Ismael Quinto having to interfere. Ismael Quinto stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Nicanor Maule's shot from short distance in the 45th minute. Felipe Leizarraga sent away a hard shot on goal in the 47th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. All the noise was coming from the home fans when the whistle went for half-time. The home team had fought hardest to put themselves in a deserved lead.

Marcos Paulin made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Anacleto Lope in the 52nd minute of play. In the 54th match minute, Cultura FC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Simon Quico to maneuver through the defense. Gaspar Lamberto received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 57th minute. Ismael Quinto tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. When Alvarado FC's Anacleto Lope in the 59th minute got a chance for a shot 59th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Cultura FC's goalie prevented a goal. In the 61st minute the ball was on its way in behind Cultura FC's goalkeeper Marcos Paulin, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. Gaspar Lamberto fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 68th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Ismael Quinto having to interfere. Felipe Leizarraga received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 72nd minute. Marcos Paulin tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. In the 76thth minute of the game Anacleto Lope who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Cultura FC's Marcos Paulin was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. If Anacleto Lope had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 78th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Cultura FC's Marcos Paulin played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Anacleto Lope in the 83rd minute of play. Anacleto Lope recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 84th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Felipe Leizarraga struck a weak shot in the 86th minute. Marcos Paulin didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Alvarado FC. Anacleto Lope blasted a shot towards the goal in the 88th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Marcos Paulin having to make a save. After some careless play in the Cultura FC defense, Severino Canor kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Marcos Paulin. The Cultura FC fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Marcos Paulin should have stopped the shot. Felipe Leizarraga might have been able to make a better finish in the 94th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Marcos Paulin. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Felipe Leizarraga ran back to his position shaking his head. Marcos Paulin showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Anacleto Lope in the 96th minute of the match. Alvarado FC's fans were exulted and cheered after their team won in a match that could easily have gone the other way.