League Play-Off

Estadio Espinillo
Spectators: 34 (Terracing: 26, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Raimundo Blasi got the match started through his kick off. PHOENIX RISING's Andrea Alonzi played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Fulgencio Abarca in the 3rd minute of play. 5 minutes into the game, Albano Favila was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. PHOENIX RISING's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Espinillo the free kick. After a rather tough play, PHOENIX RISING's Albano Favila got a free kick in the 5th minute. Fulgencio Abarca fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 6th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Andrea Alonzi having to interfere. 8 minutes into the game, PHOENIX RISING's Raimundo Blasi nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Laureano Hurko made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 0-1. A hard shot by Cristian Valiente from long distance, 14 minutes into the match, got Andrea Alonzi's attention. Through a fast twist with his body, he could stop the ball from going in on his right side. Andrea Alonzi was in exellent shape and made a fantastic save when he, in the 21st minute of the match, managed to get hold of the ball after a long shot from Cristian Valiente. After 23 minutes of play, PHOENIX RISING's Raimundo Blasi made it 0-2 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Laureano Hurko was left in no man's land by his defense there! In the 26th match minute, Espinillo was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Igor Erroman to maneuver through the defense. In the last second Andrea Alonzi throw himself and got hold of the ball when Fulgencio Abarca in the 29thth minute from his position got away a shot towards the right post. In the 30th minute, Fernan Dayam got an opportunity to score, but he didn't get a solid hit on the ball and ended up kicking it wide of the goal. Laureano Hurko came out of the goal in the 32nd minute to try and stop a shot by PHOENIX RISING's Albano Favila. But to his dismay, Albano Favila quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 0-3. When Espinillo's Fulgencio Abarca in the 36th minute got a chance for a shot 36th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye PHOENIX RISING's goalie prevented a goal. Andrea Alonzi took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Fulgencio Abarca, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. The supporters of PHOENIX RISING booed when Espinillo was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 46 match minutes in a wonderful position. Hector Servando didn't get a good kick on the ball. The crowd was extremely unhappy with the home team's performance in the first half. They were losing 1-3.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Fulgencio Abarca was the one to do the kick off. Fernan Dayam fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 54th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Laureano Hurko having to interfere. Andrea Alonzi showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Fulgencio Abarca in the 56th minute of the match. Fernan Dayam might have been able to make a better finish in the 58th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Laureano Hurko. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Fernan Dayam ran back to his position shaking his head. PHOENIX RISING's Andrea Alonzi played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Fulgencio Abarca in the 64th minute of play. Albano Favila was shown his second yellow card after 65 minutes, following a rather ugly tackle on opponent. That was the end of his participation in the match. In the 66th minute, Rolando Rudolfo sent off a long shot on goal, but the shot was nowhere near the goal and PHOENIX RISING's Andrea Alonzi didn't even have to move. 69 minutes into the match, Espinillo's goalkeeper Laureano Hurko had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Raimundo Blasi. If Astor Bela had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 70th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. 72 minutes into the game, Astor Bela cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 1-4. Laureano Hurko was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. Robustiano Salvino made in the 80th minute of the game a quick throw-in and Blas Seguinus immediately put the ball in play. Igor Erroman sent away a hard shot on goal in the 83rd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Laureano Hurko stood somewhat misplaced when Raimundo Blasi came free in front of goal and shot 1-5 to the left of him in the 88 minute. A collision led to Espinillo getting a freekick after 94 minutes play. Cristian Valiente hit a great ball. The Espinillo fans' excitement grew in the 96th match minute when Espinillo's Igor Erroman looked to have a clear shot with the ball near the goal. The shot wasn't hard, but the ball still rolled over the goal line to make it 2-5 before the goalkeeper had a chance to intervene. When the match was over PHOENIX RISING could go home with a victory in their luggage, having controlled the game far better than Espinillo throughout the match.