League Play-Off

L. de América
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. Angelo Abad started the match with the kick off. Luisito Dorio made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Edgardo Mano in the 4th minute of play. 4 minutes into the game, C. A. Independiente's Edgardo Mano nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Luisito Dorio made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 1-0. If Angelo Abad had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 10th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Victorica's Luisito Dorio proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 17th minute of the match, managed to save Victorica from getting a goal against them. Fernando Gilabert made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Fernando Birjaio in the 21st minute of play. After some fancy dribbling in the 24th minute, Higinio Vargas managed to get in a good position for a shot. Victorica's supporters rose to their feet, but Higinio Vargas was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Fernando Gilabert breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Fernando Gilabert made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Justino Astudillo in the 25th minute of play. Victorica's attacker deliberately struck the ball against an opponent to win a corner for his team. The corner was taken by Higinio Vargas in the 27th minute. A very nice done corner allowed Albino Furtado to score against Fernando Gilabert in C. A. Independiente's goal. 1-2 after 29 minutes. In the 31st match minute, C. A. Independiente was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Jaime Efraim to maneuver through the defense. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Gaston Arce during the 35th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. A collision led to C. A. Independiente getting a freekick after 36 minutes play. Gaston Arce hit a great ball. 42 minutes into the match, Fernando Birjaio had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Fernando Gilabert. C. A. Independiente's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Fernando Birjaio was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 1-3. Disappointed in the 1-3 score, the home team went to the dressing room to adjust tactics for the second half.

51 minutes into the match, Victorica's goal looked a bit too open when Angelo Abad came free, but Luisito Dorio reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 54th minute, Fernando Birjaio reached a very good position and smashed the ball with a huge effort into the net, just to the left of Fernando Gilabert. The goal made the score 1-4. Victorica's Luisito Dorio played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Angelo Abad in the 57th minute of play. Gaston Arce might have been able to make a better finish in the 58th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Luisito Dorio. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Gaston Arce ran back to his position shaking his head. In the 60th minute, one of Victorica:s players had the ball in front of the goal but got pushed and fell. The referee felt it was an obvious case and blew a penalty for Victorica. A collision led to Victorica getting a freekick after 65 minutes play. Norberto Calvino hit a great ball. Jaime Efraim received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 67th minute. Luisito Dorio tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. When Benito Goiz came up free with the goalie in the 72nd minute, the C. A. Independiente 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 Benito Goiz couldn't finish the play. Luisito Dorio took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Edgardo Mano, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Luisito Dorio showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Edgardo Mano, who was totally free with the ball in the 76th minute. Fernando Birjaio fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 80th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Fernando Gilabert having to interfere. Victorica's Albino Furtado managed, thanks to a brazen rush, stole the ball on a throw-in made by Sergio Llorienzo in the 83 minute of the game. After 85 minutes of play, C. A. Independiente's Jaime Efraim made it 3-5 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Luisito Dorio was left in no man's land by his defense there! Jaime Efraim recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 90th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Angelo Abad sent away a hard shot on goal in the 91st minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. The Victorica players were relieved to hear the final whistle blow to end the match. The away crowd was happy to see their team win after a very tight game.