League Play-Off

Estadio Popoy
Spectators: 34 (Terracing: 26, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Rigoberto Iratze got the match started through his kick off. If Serdar Göktürk had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 3rd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Tadeo Madaleno showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Lisandro Crescencio in the 5th minute of the match. In the 6th minute Lisandro Crescencio shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Tadeo Madaleno saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Rigoberto Iratze fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 11th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Gaston Xabier having to interfere. Cruz azul's Tadeo Madaleno played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Lino Rubio in the 13th minute of play. Rigoberto Iratze struck a weak shot in the 16th minute. Gaston Xabier didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Cruz azul. Rigoberto Iratze received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 21st minute. Gaston Xabier tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Serdar Göktürk sent away a hard shot on goal in the 28th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Gaston Xabier showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Serdar Göktürk, who was totally free with the ball in the 30th minute. If Genaro Stephen had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 32nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Serdar Göktürk struck a weak shot in the 34th minute. Gaston Xabier didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Cruz azul. Serdar Göktürk sent away a hard shot on goal in the 36th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Gaston Xabier made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Serdar Göktürk in the 38th minute of play. When Cruz azul's Rigoberto Iratze, in the 39th 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 Cruz azul. An unexpectedly hard shot by Lino Rubio in the 44th minute of play forced Cruz azul's goalkeeper Tadeo Madaleno to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. The first half was very even, with the score at 0-0 when the whistle went for half-time. The players welcomed the break and quickly retired to the dressing rooms.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Lino Rubio was the one to do the kick off. Cruz azul's Tadeo Madaleno played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Blas Kaxen in the 52nd minute of play. After 52 minutes, Vladimiro Eduino mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Cruz azul and the Popoy players grew even worse after the yellow card. A collision led to Cruz azul getting a freekick after 52 minutes play. Vladimiro Eduino hit a great ball. In the 55th minute the ball was on its way in behind Cruz azul's goalkeeper Tadeo Madaleno, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. Serdar Göktürk fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 59th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Gaston Xabier having to interfere. In the 62nd minute Blas Kaxen shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Tadeo Madaleno saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. After a defensive mix-up in Popoy's zone, Serdar Göktürk stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Gaston Xabier came out of the goal and Serdar Göktürk tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Cruz azul's Roque Crispo was substituted for Genaro Stephen. After 74 played minutes Cruz azul got a freekick which was hit by Anastasio Abascal. Cruz azul's Clemente Orlan was substituted for Serdar Göktürk. Tadeo Madaleno took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Lino Rubio, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. When Rigoberto Iratze came up free with the goalie in the 81st minute, the Cruz azul 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 Rigoberto Iratze couldn't finish the play. Popoy's defense didn't have a chance, in the 83rd minute, when Faustino Oinaz scored to the left of an out of position Gaston Xabier, making the score, 0-1. In the 88th minute, Popoy's goalie took a deep sigh of relief after Clemente Orlan fired away a hard shot that went just outside the left post. Gaston Xabier stood somewhat misplaced when Rigoberto Iratze came free in front of goal and shot 0-2 to the left of him in the 90 minute. Cruz azul's Tadeo Madaleno played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Lino Rubio in the 95th minute of play.