League Play-Off

Jose Amalfitani
Spectators: 32 (Terracing: 25, Seating: 7, VIP seats: 0) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Serafin Heriberto got the match started through his kick off. An unexpectedly hard shot by Dionisio Nardo in the 3rd minute of play forced Club Leones de Moron's goalkeeper Albino Gaspard to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Mauricio Frasco kicked well hit freekick during the 3rd minute of the match. Lorenzo Telo took a chance and fired a shot far from the goal in the 4th minute, but it turned out to be a dangerous situation for Albino Gaspard. Club Leones de Moron's goalkeeper really had to stretch himself to stop the ball from crossing the goal line. Ramon Criston took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Serafin Heriberto, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 9th minute, Lasse Pihlajamäki hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. In the 13th minute Severino Lugo shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Albino Gaspard saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. When the match had gone on for 17 minutes, Severino Lugo put it in 0-1 from a short distance just to the right of Albino Gaspard. Severino Lugo sent away a hard shot on goal in the 21st minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Club Leones de Moron's Serafin Heriberto got a good chance for a goal in the 24th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. 28 minutes into the game, Lorenzo Telo threw the ball into play from the sideline. Club Leones de Moron's Angel Mercurio quickly snatched the ball and retained possesion. The audience was convinced that Serafin Heriberto's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Ramon Criston was relentless in the 28th minute of the game. A collision led to La Esperanza F.C. getting a freekick after 30 minutes play. Florentino Beremundo hit a great ball. Club Leones de Moron's Serafin Heriberto got a good chance for a goal in the 32nd minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Club Leones de Moron's Timoteo Chaime got a good chance for a goal in the 34th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. When La Esperanza F.C.'s Severino Lugo in the 36th minute got a chance for a shot 36th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Club Leones de Moron's goalie prevented a goal. 37 minutes into the match, La Esperanza F.C.'s goal looked a bit too open when Serafin Heriberto came free, but Ramon Criston reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Gerard Puyol took the ball and in the 39 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Albino Gaspard. Albino Gaspard dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 0-2. La Esperanza F.C.'s Gerard Puyol got a good chance for a goal in the 42nd minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Disappointed in the 0-2 score, the home team went to the dressing room to adjust tactics for the second half.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Severino Lugo was the one to do the kick off. Ramon Criston stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Serafin Heriberto's shot from short distance in the 53rd minute. Albino Gaspard showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Gerard Puyol in the 57th minute of the match. La Esperanza F.C.'s Filomeno Egoitz managed, thanks to a brazen rush, stole the ball on a throw-in made by Fermin Goito in the 58 minute of the game. Dionisio Nardo charged in rather forcefully in the 59th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Dionisio Nardo the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. In the 59th minute, Dionisio Nardo hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Albino Gaspard took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Gerard Puyol, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 66th minute Severino Lugo shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Albino Gaspard saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Serafin Heriberto fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 68th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Ramon Criston having to interfere. After a defensive mix-up in La Esperanza F.C.'s zone, Serafin Heriberto stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Ramon Criston came out of the goal and Serafin Heriberto tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. In the 73rd minute, Severino Lugo ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Albino Gaspard was frozen by the shot and now it was 0-3. The crowd rose to their feet as Gerard Puyol kicked a wonderful shot that went in to the left of a diving Albino Gaspard. That made the score 0-4 in the 76 minute of play. Roberto Karmel fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 83rd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Ramon Criston having to interfere. When Severino Lugo came up free with the goalie in the 89th minute, the La Esperanza F.C. 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 Severino Lugo couldn't finish the play. Albino Gaspard came out of the goal in the 90th minute to try and stop a shot by La Esperanza F.C.'s Severino Lugo. But to his dismay, Severino Lugo quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 0-5. When the final whistle was heard the away supporters stood up and showed their joy. La Esperanza F.C. had managed to secure a win in what was a close match throughout.