Challenge

Claudio D. Borghi
Spectators: 39 (Terracing: 30, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) Abram Sarmiento made the kick off and thus started the match. An unexpectedly hard shot by Eleuterio Milian in the 6th minute of play forced Colombia's goalkeeper Pedro Manzanares to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Argentinos Juniors's attacker deliberately struck the ball against an opponent to win a corner for his team. The corner was taken by Mats Falch in the 9th minute. Argentinos Juniors's Mats Falch was first on the ball when the corner was shot and he dangerously headed the ball towards goal, but Pedro Manzanares in the goal jumped up to prevent it from getting in. An unexpectedly hard shot by Axel Montenegro in the 10th minute of play forced Argentinos Juniors's goalkeeper Rigoberto Nazario to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Rigoberto Nazario took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Santino Seco, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. After some careless play in the Argentinos Juniors defense, Axel Montenegro kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Rigoberto Nazario. The Argentinos Juniors fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Rigoberto Nazario should have stopped the shot. The audience thought a goal was coming when Petruț Fințescu got free with Pedro Manzanares in the 21st minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Rigoberto Nazario showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Pascual Carballar, who was totally free with the ball in the 24th minute. Rigoberto Nazario took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Axel Montenegro, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. 30 minutes into the match, Argentinos Juniors's goal looked a bit too open when Abram Sarmiento came free, but Rigoberto Nazario reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. 31 minutes into the match, Colombia's Axel Montenegro sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Rigoberto Nazario narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Axel Montenegro might have been able to make a better finish in the 40th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Rigoberto Nazario. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Axel Montenegro ran back to his position shaking his head. Rigoberto Nazario took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Axel Montenegro, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. A collision led to Argentinos Juniors getting a freekick after 43 minutes play. Leon Richie hit a great ball. Axel Montenegro sent away a hard shot on goal in the 45th minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. In the 47th minute Abram Sarmiento shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Rigoberto Nazario saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. The first half was very even, with the score at 1-1 when the whistle went for half-time. The players welcomed the break and quickly retired to the dressing rooms.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Petruț Fințescu stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. The throw-in from Leon Richie in the 51st minute of the game was unfortunally taken care of by Colombia's Antonio Indiano. After a defensive mix-up in Colombia's zone, Petruț Fințescu stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Pedro Manzanares came out of the goal and Petruț Fințescu tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Sven de Zwaan sent away a hard shot on goal in the 63rd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Abram Sarmiento hit a great freekick 66 minutes into the match. Colombia's Ignacio Mastache was substituted for Abram Sarmiento. A collision led to Colombia getting a freekick after 67 minutes play. Abram Sarmiento hit a great ball. Colombia's Pedro Manzanares played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Sven de Zwaan in the 68th minute of play. Rigoberto Nazario didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Ignacio Mastache went, in the 70th minute, to the upper right corner, 1-3 was the resulting score. Sven de Zwaan fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 73rd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Pedro Manzanares having to interfere. Pedro Manzanares showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Petruț Fințescu in the 76th minute of the match. Pedro Manzanares stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Petruț Fințescu's shot from short distance in the 77th minute. After a defensive mix-up in Colombia's zone, Petruț Fințescu stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Pedro Manzanares came out of the goal and Petruț Fințescu tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. In the 85th minute of the match, Abram Secada tried to roll the ball into the goal by the right post, but Rigoberto Nazario saw his intentions and got control of the ball before it passed the line. In the 86th minute, Denis Mero ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Pedro Manzanares was frozen by the shot and now it was 2-3. The audience thought a goal was coming when Kevin Mastache got free with Rigoberto Nazario in the 89th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Sven de Zwaan charged in rather forcefully in the 89th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Sven de Zwaan the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. Sven de Zwaan hit a great freekick 89 minutes into the match. In the 92nd minute Ignacio Mastache shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Rigoberto Nazario saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line.