League Play-Off

alberto j. armando
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. Fulgencio Cordarrel started the match with the kick off. Silvano Escobar took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Fulgencio Cordarrel, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Gerardo Etxatxu struck a weak shot in the 9th minute. Silvano Escobar didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for 5 esquinas. Israel Berasko received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 12th minute. Silvano Escobar tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. An unexpectedly hard shot by Fulgencio Cordarrel in the 17th minute of play forced BOCA JUNIORS's goalkeeper Silvano Escobar to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Silvano Escobar took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Fausto Chumo, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Maximino Escobar sent away a hard shot on goal in the 24th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. In the 25th match minute, 5 esquinas was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Fausto Chumo to maneuver through the defense. Ciro Bartoleme fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 30th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Silvano Escobar having to interfere. Fulgencio Cordarrel received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 32nd minute. Silvano Escobar tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Maximino Escobar hit a great freekick 33 minutes into the match. An unexpectedly hard shot by Fulgencio Cordarrel in the 36th minute of play forced BOCA JUNIORS's goalkeeper Silvano Escobar to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. After some fancy dribbling in the 37th minute, Ciro Bartoleme managed to get in a good position for a shot. 5 esquinas's supporters rose to their feet, but Ciro Bartoleme was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Silvano Escobar breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. If Fulgencio Cordarrel had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 39th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Felipe Cerilo sent away a hard shot on goal in the 46th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After a very even first half the match was still tied. The players went to their respective dressing rooms to discuss the tactics for the second half.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Felipe Cerilo to make the kick off. In the 52nd minute, Fulgencio Cordarrel 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. Dario Beila sent away a hard shot on goal in the 53rd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Fulgencio Cordarrel's late challenge caught a BOCA JUNIORS's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Fulgencio Cordarrel helped the player get up and apologised. Fulgencio Cordarrel fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 60th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Silvano Escobar having to interfere. If Felipe Cerilo had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 63rd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. 64 minutes into the match, 5 esquinas's goal looked a bit too open when Maximino Escobar came free, but Arnaldo Bemabe reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. 67 minutes into the match, 5 esquinas's Ciro Bartoleme sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Silvano Escobar narrowly saved just below the crossbar. The audience thought a goal was coming when Ciro Bartoleme got free with Silvano Escobar in the 70th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. In the 70th minute, Felipe Cerilo hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. BOCA JUNIORS's Silvano Escobar proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 75th minute of the match, managed to save BOCA JUNIORS from getting a goal against them. Fulgencio Cordarrel received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 77th minute. Silvano Escobar tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Felipe Cerilo sent away a hard shot on goal in the 80th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Ciro Bartoleme could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 87th minute of the match, but Silvano Escobar made a huge save. Maximino Escobar sent away a hard shot on goal in the 92nd minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. If Fulgencio Cordarrel had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 96th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead.