League Play-Off

Zenit
Spectators: 32 (Terracing: 25, Seating: 7, VIP seats: 0) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when Martin Hedman kicked off to start the match. An unexpectedly hard shot by Esteban Iratxo in the 4th minute of play forced Lopetegui's goalkeeper Aldo Dodorol to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Esteban Iratxo fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 6th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Aldo Dodorol having to interfere. Aldo Dodorol showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Esteban Iratxo, who was totally free with the ball in the 11th minute. In the 11th minute, Maximiliano Dantel hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Aldo Dodorol made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Esteban Iratxo in the 12th minute of play. Esteban Iratxo's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Aldo Dodorol read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 14th minute of play. The audience was convinced that Esteban Iratxo's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Aldo Dodorol was relentless in the 16th minute of the game. 26 minutes into the match, Esteban Iratxo notched a goal, 0-1, to the right of Lopetegui's Aldo Dodorol. Aldo Dodorol was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. Juan José Spruth charged in rather forcefully in the 28th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Juan José Spruth the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. After 28 played minutes Choya got a freekick which was hit by Juan José Spruth. Martin Hedman received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 29th minute. Ahmet Koralp Tekmil tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. After 34 minutes of play, Choya's Esteban Iratxo made it 0-2 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Aldo Dodorol was left in no man's land by his defense there! Esteban Iratxo recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 38th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. After 39 minutes, Maximiliano Dantel mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Lopetegui and the Choya players grew even worse after the yellow card. After 39 played minutes Lopetegui got a freekick which was hit by Maximiliano Dantel. Esteban Iratxo might have been able to make a better finish in the 47th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Aldo Dodorol. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Esteban Iratxo ran back to his position shaking his head. After the first half Choya were leading 0-2. They had played with great self confidence throughout the first half and fully deserved their lead.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Esteban Iratxo was the one to do the kick off. When the match had gone on for 51 minutes, Esteban Iratxo put it in 0-3 from a short distance just to the right of Aldo Dodorol. When Gualterio Boniel fell near the penalty area in the 55th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Lopetegui's protests and gave Gualterio Boniel a yellow card for diving instead. In the 55th match minute, Lopetegui was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Gualterio Boniel to maneuver through the defense. After recieving a nice pass, Choya's Juan José Spruth tried to score from far away in the 56th minute, but the ball went over the crossbar. 61 minutes into the game, Esteban Iratxo lined in a short shot 0-4 behind a frustrated Aldo Dodorol. With a little luck, Lopetegui's Aldo Dodorol got control of the ball when Esteban Iratxo tried to sneak it across the goal line. Esteban Iratxo charged in rather forcefully in the 65th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Esteban Iratxo the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. A collision led to Choya getting a freekick after 66 minutes play. Esteban Iratxo hit a great ball. Martin Hedman received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 67th minute. Ahmet Koralp Tekmil tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. 70 minutes into the match, Lopetegui's goalkeeper Aldo Dodorol had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Esteban Iratxo. Esteban Iratxo who was well placed in front of the goal fired away a dangerous shot that in the 72ndth minute tested the skills of Aldo Dodorol when he managed to save the team from getting behind. The supporters of Choya booed when Lopetegui was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 73 match minutes in a wonderful position. Konstantinos Kostarakis didn't get a good kick on the ball. Gugu Fernandez's late challenge caught a Lopetegui's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Gugu Fernandez helped the player get up and apologised. In the 75th match minute, Choya was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Gugu Fernandez to maneuver through the defense. Esteban Iratxo could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 78th minute of the match, but Aldo Dodorol made a huge save. Esteban Iratxo's shot straight on target was not completely harmless. The ball had pretty good speed, but Aldo Dodorol firmly grabbed it by the left post. Lopetegui's Aldo Dodorol played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Krzysztof Wierzchowski in the 85th minute of play. Pablo Quin charged in rather forcefully in the 87th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Pablo Quin the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. The supporters of Choya booed when Lopetegui was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 87 match minutes in a wonderful position. Pablo Quin didn't get a good kick on the ball. When Juan José Spruth came up free with the goalie in the 87th minute, the Choya 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 Juan José Spruth couldn't finish the play. In the 90th minute Krzysztof Wierzchowski shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Aldo Dodorol saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. After a rather tough play, Lopetegui's Maximiliano Dantel got a free kick in the 91st minute. Esteban Iratxo could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 93rd minute of the match, but Aldo Dodorol made a huge save. Esteban Iratxo fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 96th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Aldo Dodorol having to interfere. When the final whistle was heard the away supporters stood up and showed their joy. Choya had managed to secure a win in what was a close match throughout.