League Play-Off

Estadio Naranjapata
Spectators: 36 (Terracing: 28, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) UD Merced's Mercado Montarco 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. Xilo Cuenllas made a fantastic save in the 7th minute, when Pablo Sisalde sent off a good shot on target. Pablo Sisalde took the ball and in the 12 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Xilo Cuenllas. Xilo Cuenllas dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 1-0. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by George Burriaga during the 16th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. The supporters of Atletas de Cristo booed when UD Merced was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 16 match minutes in a wonderful position. George Burriaga didn't get a good kick on the ball. After some fancy dribbling in the 18th minute, Samaniego Moraza managed to get in a good position for a shot. Atletas de Cristo's supporters rose to their feet, but Samaniego Moraza was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Xilo Cuenllas breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. If Cesar Servin had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 19th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Xilo Cuenllas made an important save on a dangerous shot by Pablo Sisalde in the 23rd minute. Samaniego Moraza sent away a hard shot on goal in the 24th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Xilo Cuenllas stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Samaniego Moraza's shot from short distance in the 26th minute. Díaz Olaiz showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Urrutia Candelera, who was totally free with the ball in the 27th minute. Lucio Limon hit a great freekick 30 minutes into the match. Samaniego Moraza in the 32ndth minute had a little luck and got a chance for a shot in front of the goal. Without hesitation aimed to the right of Xilo Cuenllas, who managed to lunge to the right direction and made a save. 33 minutes into the match, Atletas de Cristo's goal looked a bit too open when Mercado Montarco came free, but Díaz Olaiz reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Díaz Olaiz showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Urrutia Candelera, who was totally free with the ball in the 34th minute. 41 minutes into the match, Atletas de Cristo's goal looked a bit too open when Mercado Montarco came free, but Díaz Olaiz reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Díaz Olaiz showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Carlos-Armando Minjaraz, who was totally free with the ball in the 42nd minute. The away team players looked dejected as the walked off the pitch at half time. They had fought hard, but were still losing 2-0.

Clemente Lloves might have been able to make a better finish in the 53rd minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Xilo Cuenllas. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Clemente Lloves ran back to his position shaking his head. An unexpectedly hard shot by Samaniego Moraza in the 54th minute of play forced UD Merced's goalkeeper Xilo Cuenllas to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 56th minute Atletas de Cristo were awarded a corner. Zuhaitz Buzon went to the cornerflag to take it. After taking down the ball on Atletas de Cristo's corner Zuhaitz Buzon fired away a hard shot, but the defenders efficiently covered the most dangerous angles and Xilo Cuenllas quite easily take care of the ball. Xilo Cuenllas stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Samaniego Moraza's shot from short distance in the 58th minute. Atletas de Cristo's defense didn't have a chance, in the 65th minute, when Carlos-Armando Minjaraz scored to the left of an out of position Díaz Olaiz, making the score, 2-1. The audience was convinced that Cesar Servin's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Xilo Cuenllas was relentless in the 68th minute of the game. When Atletas de Cristo's Samaniego Moraza in the 75th minute got a chance for a shot 75th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye UD Merced's goalie prevented a goal. UD Merced's Xilo Cuenllas played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Samaniego Moraza in the 78th minute of play. In the 80th minute Samaniego Moraza shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Xilo Cuenllas saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Xilo Cuenllas stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Samaniego Moraza's shot from short distance in the 81st minute. A collision led to Atletas de Cristo getting a freekick after 82 minutes play. Clemente Lloves hit a great ball. With a little luck, Atletas de Cristo's Díaz Olaiz got control of the ball when Urrutia Candelera tried to sneak it across the goal line. 84 minutes into the game, Cesar Servin was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Atletas de Cristo's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave UD Merced the free kick. Atletas de Cristo's Díaz Olaiz proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 88th minute of the match, managed to save Atletas de Cristo from getting a goal against them. After a rather tough play, Atletas de Cristo's Clemente Lloves got a free kick in the 89th minute. After some fancy dribbling in the 95th minute, Samaniego Moraza managed to get in a good position for a shot. Atletas de Cristo's supporters rose to their feet, but Samaniego Moraza was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Xilo Cuenllas breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Cesar Servin sent away a hard shot on goal in the 97th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Atletas de Cristo walked away with a well-earned victory that was much celebrated by the crowd.