League Play-Off

Candelaria
Spectators: 34 (Terracing: 26, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) The mood of the audience was pleasant when Tiburcio Bertin made the kick off which started today's match. Higuera's Geronimo Mergildo proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 5th minute of the match, managed to save Higuera from getting a goal against them. Geronimo Mergildo showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Guaberto Aznaro, who was totally free with the ball in the 6th minute. An unexpectedly hard shot by Guaberto Aznaro in the 8th minute of play forced Higuera's goalkeeper Geronimo Mergildo to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. The crowd rose to their feet as Maximino Rosalio kicked a wonderful shot that went in to the left of a diving Geronimo Mergildo. That made the score 1-0 in the 9 minute of play. Damian Guifre hit a great freekick 14 minutes into the match. In the 17th minute, Orlando Viator left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The Higuera fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 1-1. When Carlos Birjaio came up free with the goalie in the 20th minute, the Candelaria AFC 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 Carlos Birjaio couldn't finish the play. After 23 minutes, Leandro Shepherd mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Higuera and the Candelaria AFC players grew even worse after the yellow card. Leandro Shepherd kicked well hit freekick during the 23rd minute of the match. 24 minutes into the match, Higuera's goalkeeper Geronimo Mergildo had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Carlos Birjaio. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Tiburcio Bertin in the 27th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Martin Gelacio prevented the ball from getting in the gole. Martin Gelacio took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Orlando Viator, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. 33 minutes into the match, Higuera's Tiburcio Bertin sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Martin Gelacio narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Tiburcio Bertin recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 39th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Orlando Viator might have been able to make a better finish in the 45th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Martin Gelacio. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Orlando Viator ran back to his position shaking his head. Erasmo Jaunti charged in rather forcefully in the 47th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Erasmo Jaunti the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. After the first half the score was level. The break gave the players a chance to catch their breath, whilst the managers went over the tactics with them again.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Guaberto Aznaro was the one to do the kick off. Tiburcio Bertin struck a weak shot in the 53rd minute. Martin Gelacio didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Higuera. A collision led to Candelaria AFC getting a freekick after 55 minutes play. Maximino Rosalio hit a great ball. Tiburcio Bertin fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 57th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Martin Gelacio having to interfere. After a rather tough play, Higuera's Leandro Shepherd got a free kick in the 68th minute. In the 70th minute Carlos Birjaio shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Geronimo Mergildo saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. 73 minutes into the match, Candelaria AFC's goalkeeper Martin Gelacio had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Orlando Viator. Carlos Birjaio scored 2-2 in the 82nd match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Geronimo Mergildo, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. After a rather tough play, Higuera's Samuel Atauri got a free kick in the 85th minute. Geronimo Mergildo showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Guaberto Aznaro in the 88th minute of the match. After having played for 94 minutes, Guaberto Aznaro managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Candelaria AFC's supporters crossed their fingers, but Guaberto Aznaro was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. If Carlos Birjaio had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 96th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Jeers came from both ends of the stadium when the final whistle went. Neither team had looked impressive and the draw seeemd a fair result.