League Play-Off

Itatí
Spectators: 32 (Terracing: 25, Seating: 7, VIP seats: 0) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when Hugo Ibon kicked off to start the match. 3 minutes into the game, Bartolo Sadurni was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Itatí FC's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Escobar the free kick. The supporters of Escobar booed when Itatí FC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 3 match minutes in a wonderful position. Bartolo Sadurni didn't get a good kick on the ball. Escobar's Pascual Osoro played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Hugo Ibon in the 6th minute of play. After 8 minutes Escobar's defender was forced to head the ball over the line for a corner. It was Enzo Domiku who took care of the corner kick. In the 13th minute Ricardo Errolan shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Natalio Dolfos saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. After 14 minutes, Cirilo Francis mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Itatí FC and the Escobar players grew even worse after the yellow card. In the 14th match minute, Itatí FC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Cirilo Francis to maneuver through the defense. After some fancy dribbling in the 17th minute, Sebastian Lorenz managed to get in a good position for a shot. Itatí FC's supporters rose to their feet, but Sebastian Lorenz was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Pascual Osoro breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Hugo Ibon spun around in front of the goal 24 minutes in the game, and got away a shot that, to his disappointment, went to the left of Escobar's goal. If Sebastian Lorenz had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 26th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Hugo Ibon fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 28th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Pascual Osoro having to interfere. With his leg Pascual Osoro managed to avoid a goal in the 32ndth minute, when Itatí FC's Sebastian Lorenz fired away a shot with a lot of spin towards his right hand side. In the 34th minute the ball was on its way in behind Escobar's goalkeeper Pascual Osoro, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. Jorge Lopez blasted a shot towards the goal in the 39th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Pascual Osoro having to make a save. In the 41st minute, Pastor Aimar ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Natalio Dolfos was frozen by the shot and now it was 0-1. After a rather tough play, Escobar's Enrique Rufo got a free kick in the 44th minute. The Itatí FC players were disheartened as they walked off the pitch after the first half. Escobar were winning 0-1.

In the 51st minute, Sergio Iago hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. In the 52nd minute, Pastor Aimar 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. Sergio Iago charged in rather forcefully in the 53rd minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Sergio Iago the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. When Itatí FC's Sebastian Lorenz in the 58th minute got a chance for a shot 58th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Escobar's goalie prevented a goal. Sebastian Lorenz received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 61st minute. Pascual Osoro tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Melchor Benitez's late challenge caught a Itatí FC's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Melchor Benitez helped the player get up and apologised. Melchor Benitez kicked well hit freekick during the 69th minute of the match. Itatí FC's Sebastian Lorenz got a good chance for a goal in the 71st minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Ricardo Errolan fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 82nd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Natalio Dolfos having to interfere. In the 87th match minute, Escobar was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Desiderio Tauro to maneuver through the defense. After some fancy dribbling in the 88th minute, Enzo Domiku managed to get in a good position for a shot. Itatí FC's supporters rose to their feet, but Enzo Domiku was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Pascual Osoro breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. In the 93rd match minute, Itatí FC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Sergio Iago to maneuver through the defense. Ricardo Errolan fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 96th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Natalio Dolfos having to interfere. When the final whistle went the supporters of Escobar were delighted that their team had defeated the much more dominant Itatí FC side.