League Play-Off

Jonathan Koldobica
Spectators: 32 (Terracing: 25, Seating: 7, VIP seats: 0) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Ubaldo Goiz took the kick off in the first half of the match. After a defensive mix-up in Los Iracundos's zone, Fidel Gaztea stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Roque Ixona came out of the goal and Fidel Gaztea tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. 4 minutes into the game, Arequito FC's Ubaldo Goiz nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Roque Ixona made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 0-1. The supporters of Los Iracundos booed when Arequito FC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 7 match minutes in a wonderful position. Armando Bastia didn't get a good kick on the ball. The referee blew the whistle for a penalty in the 11th minute of the game. One of Arequito FC:s players had nearly got his shirt torn off by an opponent while getting free in front of Los Iracundos:s goal. Artemio Lucero recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 16th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. If Ubaldo Goiz had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 18th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. With a little luck, Arequito FC's Anacleto Estebe got control of the ball when Rene Dalmau tried to sneak it across the goal line. In the 29th minute, Nunez Erruki hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. In the 34th minute, Ruhut Kili-kili made a precise shot to the right of Roque Ixona. Los Iracundos's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 1-2. Roque Ixona came out of the goal in the 37th minute to try and stop a shot by Arequito FC's Ubaldo Goiz. But to his dismay, Ubaldo Goiz quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 1-3. If Nunez Erruki had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 42nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. 44 minutes into the match, Rene Dalmau had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Anacleto Estebe. Arequito FC's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Rene Dalmau was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 2-3. Luck had favoured the away team in the first, and they walked off with a 2-3 lead.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Domingo Ulizes was the one to do the kick off. With a little luck, Los Iracundos's Roque Ixona got control of the ball when Ruhut Kili-kili tried to sneak it across the goal line. Artemio Lucero was really disappointed when he shot the ball just outside the right post instead of scoring a goal in the 54th minute. Arequito FC's manager could be seen on the sidelines shaking his head and muttering to himself as his team had just wasted another chance. After 55 played minutes Los Iracundos got a freekick which was hit by Nunez Erruki. After a defensive mix-up in Los Iracundos's zone, Ubaldo Goiz stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Roque Ixona came out of the goal and Ubaldo Goiz tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Roque Ixona made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Ubaldo Goiz in the 64th minute of play. Ruhut Kili-kili sent away a hard shot on goal in the 65th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. In the 68th minute, Baltasar Paul hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Rene Dalmau struck a weak shot in the 70th minute. Anacleto Estebe didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Los Iracundos. Roque Ixona was in exellent shape and made a fantastic save when he, in the 74th minute of the match, managed to get hold of the ball after a long shot from Teofilo Etxeberri. Ubaldo Goiz received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 75th minute. Roque Ixona tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Evelio Chorche hit a great freekick 76 minutes into the match. In the 78th match minute, Los Iracundos was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Domingo Ulizes to maneuver through the defense. 84 minutes into the match, Artemio Lucero notched a goal, 2-5, to the right of Los Iracundos's Roque Ixona. Roque Ixona was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. Ubaldo Goiz did some fancy footwork in front of goal and succeeded to deceive the defenders so he could slam the ball in 2-6 to the left of a surprised Roque Ixona 88 minutes into the match. In the 91st match minute, Los Iracundos was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Evelio Chorche to maneuver through the defense. When the match was over Arequito FC could go home with a victory in their luggage, having controlled the game far better than Los Iracundos throughout the match.