League Play-Off

Alejandro Villanueva
Spectators: 35 (Terracing: 27, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) After 5 played minutes Cajabamba got a freekick which was hit by Xzaver Matas. 7 minutes into the match, Cajabamba's goal looked a bit too open when Juvenal Colmenares came free, but Piorno Pedrera reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. The crowd rose to their feet as Cajabamba's Cristiano Rioja slotted home a wonderful shot that went in to the left of Guillerme Espejo. That made the score 1-0 after 10 minutes of play. Jerardo Rebolloso charged in rather forcefully in the 13th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Jerardo Rebolloso the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. The supporters of Cajabamba booed when AC Libertad was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 13 match minutes in a wonderful position. Jerardo Rebolloso didn't get a good kick on the ball. Cristiano Rioja sent away a hard shot on goal in the 19th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Lucian Valenciano during the 25th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. Piorno Pedrera had in the 28thth minute some difficulties stopping Mingo Pola's well aimed penalty as it nearly passed him on his left side, but he still managed to hold the ball. Piorno Pedrera showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Eutropio Benegas, who was totally free with the ball in the 29th minute. Cristiano Rioja sent away a hard shot on goal in the 35th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After a defensive mix-up in AC Libertad's zone, Xzaver Matas stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Guillerme Espejo came out of the goal and Xzaver Matas tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. When Cajabamba's Cristiano Rioja, in the 46th minute, received a pass right in front of the net, it looked like a certain goal, but his shot went outside. A wasted opportunity for Cajabamba. The away team players looked dejected as the walked off the pitch at half time. They had fought hard, but were still losing 1-0.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Cristiano Rioja to strike the kick off in the second half. An unexpectedly hard shot by Cristiano Rioja in the 52nd minute of play forced AC Libertad's goalkeeper Guillerme Espejo to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Bernal Bara's late challenge caught a Cajabamba's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Bernal Bara helped the player get up and apologised. After 55 played minutes AC Libertad got a freekick which was hit by Bernal Bara. Cordeal Torre missed a clear chance of a goal when in the 57 minute of the game fired away a shot, but unfortunally the ball went out to the Guillerme Espejo right hand side. Guillerme Espejo showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Cristiano Rioja, who was totally free with the ball in the 58th minute. Eutropio Benegas received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 60th minute. Piorno Pedrera tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Mingo Pola, 65 minutes into the match, dribbled the ball up the side of the field and decided to take a long shot at the goal. Unfortunately, the ball was poorly hit and landed closer to the corner than to the goal. The supporters of Cajabamba booed when AC Libertad was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 74 match minutes in a wonderful position. Carolo Cespedes didn't get a good kick on the ball. Cristiano Rioja sent away a hard shot on goal in the 75th minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. Xzaver Matas might have been able to make a better finish in the 77th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Guillerme Espejo. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Xzaver Matas ran back to his position shaking his head. Xzaver Matas fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 79th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Guillerme Espejo having to interfere. After 80 minutes, Norino Barrieta mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the AC Libertad and the Cajabamba players grew even worse after the yellow card. In the 80th match minute, AC Libertad was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Norino Barrieta to maneuver through the defense. If Xzaver Matas had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 81st minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. Guillerme Espejo stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Cristiano Rioja's shot from short distance in the 83rd minute. AC Libertad's Guillerme Espejo played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Cristiano Rioja in the 85th minute of play. In the 85th minute Lop Almeida suffered a knee injury and had to be helped off the field. AC Libertad's Guillerme Espejo played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Cordeal Torre in the 88th minute of play. Piorno Pedrera made an important save on a dangerous shot by Juvenal Colmenares in the 98th minute. Cajabamba's fans were exulted and cheered after their team won in a match that could easily have gone the other way.