League Play-Off

Estadio Yucatan Maya
Spectators: 39 (Terracing: 30, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Gaston Rosio got the match started through his kick off. A collision led to MEXICO getting a freekick after 4 minutes play. Salvador Tibalt hit a great ball. The crowd rose to their feet as Zé Paulo Hermes kicked a wonderful shot that went in to the left of a diving Björn Vanek. That made the score 1-0 in the 7 minute of play. 12 minutes into the match, Americo Jon notched a goal, 1-1, to the right of FC Yucatan Chichén Itzá's Celso Hartz. Celso Hartz was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. Geronimo Eladio received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 19th minute. Celso Hartz tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Celso Hartz made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Geronimo Eladio in the 23rd minute of play. 26 minutes into the game, Maximiliano Shepherd cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 2-1. Björn Vanek was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. Americo Jon sent away a hard shot on goal in the 30th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. When FC Yucatan Chichén Itzá's Zé Paulo Hermes in the 39th minute got a chance for a shot 39th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye MEXICO's goalie prevented a goal. Zé Paulo Hermes fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 41st minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Björn Vanek having to interfere. No-one was surprised that the home team were leading 2-1 at half-time.

The wind increased when Zé Paulo Hermes made the kick off in the second half. Björn Vanek showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Celedonio Abajas in the 51st minute of the match. In the 54th minute, Zé Paulo Hermes ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Björn Vanek was frozen by the shot and now it was 3-1. After 57 minutes, Alfredo Loramendi mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the MEXICO and the FC Yucatan Chichén Itzá players grew even worse after the yellow card. In the 57th match minute, MEXICO was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Alfredo Loramendi to maneuver through the defense. Gaston Rosio sent away a hard shot on goal in the 61st minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. In the 69th minute Geronimo Eladio shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Celso Hartz saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Celso Hartz stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Gaston Rosio's shot from short distance in the 70th minute. In the 71st minute MEXICO were awarded a corner. Honorato Gaitan went to the cornerflag to take it. Americo Jon scored 3-2 in the 73rd match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Celso Hartz, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. The audience was convinced that Geronimo Eladio's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Celso Hartz was relentless in the 76th minute of the game. An unexpectedly hard shot by Americo Jon in the 81st minute of play forced FC Yucatan Chichén Itzá's goalkeeper Celso Hartz to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Celso Hartz made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Salvador Tibalt in the 83rd minute of play. In the 84th minute Celedonio Abajas shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Björn Vanek saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. The crowd rose to their feet as MEXICO's Americo Jon slotted home a wonderful shot that went in to the left of Celso Hartz. That made the score 3-3 after 87 minutes of play. Geronimo Eladio's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Celso Hartz read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 90th minute of play. Celedonio Abajas charged in rather forcefully in the 92nd minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Celedonio Abajas the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. After a rather tough play, FC Yucatan Chichén Itzá's Celedonio Abajas got a free kick in the 92nd minute. FC Yucatan Chichén Itzá's defense didn't have a chance, in the 95th minute, when Geronimo Eladio scored to the left of an out of position Celso Hartz, making the score, 3-4. The MEXICO supporters could be heard counting down the last seconds of the match. They errupted in celebration when the whistle blew, knowing MEXICO would go home with victory in their luggage after a match that easily could have ended differently.