League Play-Off

Gigante de Alberdi
Spectators: 32 (Terracing: 25, Seating: 7, VIP seats: 0) Escalada AFC's Raimundo Fernandez started the match with a crisp pass. The crowd had been anticipating this game for weeks and the excitement in the stadium was easily visible. After 5 minutes of play, the referee blew the whistle. It was a penalty for Escalada AFC! The goalkeeper, Pascual Havier, was totally fooled by Pajalta FC's Abel Rito, who 8 minutes into the game made a penalty shot that went in on the goalkeeper's left side. Santos Asteri hit a great freekick 14 minutes into the match. Sixto Mikeldi showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Santos Asteri in the 17th minute of the match. In the 19th minute Isidoro Jerico shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Sixto Mikeldi saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. When Isidoro Jerico came up free with the goalie in the 20th minute, the Escalada 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 Isidoro Jerico couldn't finish the play. In the 23rd match minute, Escalada AFC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Lino Batista to maneuver through the defense. Julian Czciborek recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 25th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Primitivo Chus sent away a hard shot on goal in the 27th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Isidoro Jerico received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 30th minute. Sixto Mikeldi tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. After some careless play in the Pajalta FC defense, Isidoro Jerico kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Sixto Mikeldi. The Pajalta FC fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Sixto Mikeldi should have stopped the shot. 43 minutes into the match, Santos Asteri had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Sixto Mikeldi. Pajalta FC's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Santos Asteri was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 1-2. Isidoro Jerico fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 46th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Sixto Mikeldi having to interfere. After the first half Escalada AFC were leading 1-2. They had played with great self confidence throughout the first half and fully deserved their lead.

Pascual Havier made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Primitivo Chus in the 52nd minute of play. After 55 minutes, Zacarias Tonio mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Pajalta FC and the Escalada AFC players grew even worse after the yellow card. After a rather tough play, Pajalta FC's Zacarias Tonio got a free kick in the 55th minute. Sixto Mikeldi was in exellent shape and made a fantastic save when he, in the 57th minute of the match, managed to get hold of the ball after a long shot from Reynaldo Aballe. Sixto Mikeldi made a fantastic save in the 58th minute, when Carlos Herauso sent off a good shot on target. When Santos Asteri fell near the penalty area in the 59th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Escalada AFC's protests and gave Santos Asteri a yellow card for diving instead. After a rather tough play, Escalada AFC's Santos Asteri got a free kick in the 60th minute. Sixto Mikeldi showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Santos Asteri, who was totally free with the ball in the 63rd minute. Pajalta FC's Primitivo Chus got a good chance for a goal in the 64th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. In the 66th minute, Isidoro Jerico 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. The supporters of Escalada AFC booed when Pajalta FC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 69 match minutes in a wonderful position. Abel Rito didn't get a good kick on the ball. Isidoro Jerico fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 70th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Sixto Mikeldi having to interfere. An unexpectedly hard shot by Carlos Herauso in the 75th minute of play forced Pajalta FC's goalkeeper Sixto Mikeldi to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. An unexpected shot in the 76th minute by Isidoro Jerico got the crowd on their feet, but to their dismay it went out on the left side. When Julian Czciborek fell near the penalty area in the 77th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Pajalta FC's protests and gave Julian Czciborek a yellow card for diving instead. The supporters of Pajalta FC booed when Escalada AFC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 78 match minutes in a wonderful position. Raimundo Sarracino didn't get a good kick on the ball. Isidoro Jerico fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 80th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Sixto Mikeldi having to interfere. Escalada AFC's Pascual Havier played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Primitivo Chus in the 81st minute of play. Lino Batista came free with the goalkeeper in the 85th minute of the match, and shot straight on target. The shot was a little too simple and Sixto Mikeldi could save by the left post. Julian Czciborek received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 90th minute. Pascual Havier tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. When Primitivo Chus came up free with the goalie in the 92nd minute, the Pajalta 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 Primitivo Chus couldn't finish the play. After some fancy dribbling in the 96th minute, Isidoro Jerico managed to get in a good position for a shot. Escalada AFC's supporters rose to their feet, but Isidoro Jerico was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Sixto Mikeldi breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Escalada AFC's players went to the stands to thank the travelling support. The fan's backing had helped spurr the team on to a fine performance that won them the match.