League Play-Off

Ciudad de Caseros
Spectators: 32 (Terracing: 25, Seating: 7, VIP seats: 0) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when Arsenio Maldonado kicked off to start the match. The supporters of Atlético Estudiantes booed when Veneno Paciente AFC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 2 match minutes in a wonderful position. Ernesto Lano didn't get a good kick on the ball. Arsenio Maldonado succeeded in the game's 5th minute to shoot an unreachable shot under the crossbar and scored - 1-0. The audience was convinced that Gilberto Banegas's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Artemio Stephen was relentless in the 9th minute of the game. After 11 minutes of play, Veneno Paciente AFC's Delmar Gorri made it 1-1 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Artemio Stephen was left in no man's land by his defense there! Artemio Stephen stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Delmar Gorri's shot from short distance in the 15th minute. If Delmar Gorri had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 18th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After 25 played minutes Veneno Paciente AFC got a freekick which was hit by Ernesto Lano. Gilberto Banegas blasted a shot towards the goal in the 28th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Artemio Stephen having to make a save. After 32 minutes of play, Atlético Estudiantes's Ramon Celio made it 2-1 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Timoteo Birjaio was left in no man's land by his defense there! Timoteo Birjaio made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Arsenio Maldonado in the 39th minute of play. Artemio Stephen showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Gilberto Banegas, who was totally free with the ball in the 44th minute. The away team players looked dejected as the walked off the pitch at half time. They had fought hard, but were still losing 2-1.

The wind increased when Delmar Gorri made the kick off in the second half. In the 55th minute of the match Orlando Hunfredo sent off a long shot with destination to the right of the goalkeeper, but Timoteo Birjaio skillfully saved the ball. After a defensive mix-up in Atlético Estudiantes's zone, Delmar Gorri stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Artemio Stephen came out of the goal and Delmar Gorri tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. The supporters of Veneno Paciente AFC booed when Atlético Estudiantes was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 63 match minutes in a wonderful position. Placido Fagondo didn't get a good kick on the ball. Gilberto Banegas scored 2-2 in the 69th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Artemio Stephen, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. After 72 played minutes Atlético Estudiantes got a freekick which was hit by Nicolas Serafo. When Gilberto Banegas came up free with the goalie in the 73rd minute, the Veneno Paciente AFC 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 Gilberto Banegas couldn't finish the play. Delmar Gorri kicked well hit freekick during the 75th minute of the match. Arsenio Maldonado 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. 86 minutes into the match, Atlético Estudiantes's goalkeeper Artemio Stephen had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Gilberto Banegas. In the 90th minute, Placido Fagondo hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. A hard shot 91 in the game by Gilberto Banegas from a close distance when the talented Artemio Stephen managed to make a qualified save. Atlético Estudiantes's players were relieved.