Challenge

Estadio Olímpico
Spectators: 45 (Terracing: 35, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Tomas Illescas took the kick off in the first half of the match. In the 4th minute Tomas Illescas shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Paulo Romelio saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. The crowd rose to their feet as Tomas Illescas kicked a wonderful shot that went in to the left of a diving Paulo Romelio. That made the score 1-0 in the 5 minute of play. Patricio Costa charged in rather forcefully in the 13th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Patricio Costa the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. In the 13th minute, Patricio Costa hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Tomas Illescas blasted a shot towards the goal in the 17th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Paulo Romelio having to make a save. 19 minutes into the match, Venezuela's goal looked a bit too open when Eliseo Illan came free, but Jonathan Ferrant reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. La Gallardeta's attacker deliberately struck the ball against an opponent to win a corner for his team. The corner was taken by Apolo Naelio in the 20th minute. Apolo Naelio made a great header on La Gallardeta's corner, it was just that Venezuela's Jonathan Ferrant managed to reach the ball for a save. Jonathan Venegas kicked well hit freekick during the 29th minute of the match. Tomas Illescas fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 42nd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Paulo Romelio having to interfere. 45 minutes into the game, Apolo Naelio was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. La Gallardeta's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Venezuela the free kick. The supporters of Venezuela booed when La Gallardeta was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 45 match minutes in a wonderful position. Apolo Naelio didn't get a good kick on the ball. When Tomas Illescas fell near the penalty area in the 47th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Venezuela's protests and gave Tomas Illescas a yellow card for diving instead. The supporters of La Gallardeta booed when Venezuela was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 47 match minutes in a wonderful position. Tomas Illescas didn't get a good kick on the ball.

In the 53rd match minute, La Gallardeta was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Apolo Naelio to maneuver through the defense. Tomas Illescas struck a weak shot in the 54th minute. Paulo Romelio didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Venezuela. In the 57th minute, Leonides Pancho hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Tomas Illescas blasted a shot towards the goal in the 60th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Paulo Romelio having to make a save. Patricio Costa fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 63rd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Paulo Romelio having to interfere. Paulo Romelio made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Tomas Illescas in the 65th minute of play. Paulo Romelio made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Patricio Costa in the 66th minute of play. Paulo Romelio took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Tomas Illescas, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Paulo Romelio showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Tomas Illescas in the 77th minute of the match. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Tomas Illescas in the 84th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Paulo Romelio saved La Gallardeta from getting behind. Tomas Illescas fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 90th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Paulo Romelio having to interfere. Leonides Pancho made in the 95th minute of the game a sloppy throw-in which Casimiro Erramun however managed to control. For all the effort they put into the match, the La Gallardeta players left disappointed. They had fought hard, but couldn't break down the home team's defense. The match ended in a win for Venezuela.