Challenge

Waterbury Arena
Spectators: 43 (Terracing: 33, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) Tomas Illescas started the match with the kick off in front of an excited audience. Tomas Illescas struck a weak shot in the 4th minute. Boyd Donnelly didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Venezuela. 6 minutes into the match, Tomas Illescas notched a goal, 0-1, to the right of Waterbury Rangers's Boyd Donnelly. Boyd Donnelly was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. 9 minutes into the match, Venezuela's goalkeeper Jonathan Ferrant had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Shayne Cagle. In the 11th minute Waterbury Rangers were awarded a corner. Ryan Esparza went to the cornerflag to take it. Jonathan Ferrant showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Rodolfo Cordero in the 13th minute of the match. With an all-out effort, Waterbury Rangers's Jonathan Ferrant threw himself towards the right post 14 minutes into the match and grabbed hold of the ball from Rodolfo Cordero, which otherwise would have been placed in the net. In the 17th minute Tomas Illescas shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Boyd Donnelly saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. After 18 minutes Waterbury Rangers's defender was forced to head the ball over the line for a corner. It was Tomas Illescas who took care of the corner kick. The corner ended in Tomas Illescas almost managing to get the ball behind the net, but Waterbury Rangers's Boyd Donnelly did a great save. It seemed to be an obvious goal in the 19th minute, but Jonathan Ferrant got his fingers on the ball or the save, leaving Venezuela hanging dry this time. Tomas Illescas fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 21st minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Boyd Donnelly having to interfere. Boyd Donnelly made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Tomas Illescas in the 27th minute of play. 30 minutes had been played when some careless play by Waterbury Rangers's defense caused the ball to cross the line for a corner. Tomas Illescas was slow to take the kick. During this time Venezuela's players had a chance to rest. In the 36th match minute, Waterbury Rangers was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Domingo Wells to maneuver through the defense. After having played for 36 minutes, Tomas Illescas managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Venezuela's supporters crossed their fingers, but Tomas Illescas was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. A collision led to Waterbury Rangers getting a freekick after 39 minutes play. Jude Blankenship hit a great ball. In the 42nd minute, Tomas Illescas 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. After 44 played minutes Venezuela got a freekick which was hit by Patricio Costa. After a defensive mix-up in Venezuela's zone, Rodolfo Cordero stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Jonathan Ferrant came out of the goal and Rodolfo Cordero tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. After the first half Venezuela were leading 0-1. They had played with great self confidence throughout the first half and fully deserved their lead.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Shayne Cagle to make the kick off. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Rodolfo Cordero in the 52nd managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Jonathan Ferrant saved Venezuela from getting behind. Jonathan Ferrant came out of the goal in the 53rd minute to try and stop a shot by Waterbury Rangers's Preston Winston. But to his dismay, Preston Winston quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 1-1. Jonathan Ferrant showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Shayne Cagle, who was totally free with the ball in the 55th minute. Waterbury Rangers's attacker deliberately struck the ball against an opponent to win a corner for his team. The corner was taken by Ryan Esparza in the 57th minute. After 58 played minutes Venezuela got a freekick which was hit by Joshua Secada. Jonathan Ferrant took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Rodolfo Cordero, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Jonathan Ferrant took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Shayne Cagle, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Jonathan Venegas kicked well hit freekick during the 61st minute of the match. Jonathan Ferrant didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Rodolfo Cordero went, in the 64th minute, to the upper right corner, 2-1 was the resulting score. Tomas Illescas recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 67th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. In the 70th match minute, Waterbury Rangers was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Domingo Wells to maneuver through the defense. Boyd Donnelly showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Tomas Illescas in the 71st minute of the match. Rodolfo Cordero struck a weak shot in the 72nd minute. Jonathan Ferrant didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Waterbury Rangers. In the 78th match minute, Venezuela was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Camilo Gaos to maneuver through the defense. Werner Comer missed a clear chance of a goal when in the 81 minute of the game fired away a shot, but unfortunally the ball went out to the Jonathan Ferrant right hand side. When the match had gone on for 83 minutes, Tomas Illescas took a quick shot and it went in 2-2 without a chance for Boyd Donnelly to make any attempt to save it. Preston Winston kicked well hit freekick during the 88th minute of the match. In the 89th minute, one of Waterbury Rangers:s players had the ball in front of the goal but got pushed and fell. The referee felt it was an obvious case and blew a penalty for Waterbury Rangers. Boyd Donnelly had in the 90thth minute some difficulties stopping Tomas Illescas's well aimed penalty as it nearly passed him on his right side, but he still managed to hold the ball Boyd Donnelly came out of the goal in the 90th minute to try and stop a shot by Venezuela's Tomas Illescas. But to his dismay, Tomas Illescas quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 2-3. Waterbury Rangers's Boyd Donnelly played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Tomas Illescas in the 93rd minute of play. After some fancy dribbling in the 94th minute, Tomas Illescas managed to get in a good position for a shot. Venezuela's supporters rose to their feet, but Tomas Illescas was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Boyd Donnelly breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. The supporters of Waterbury Rangers booed when Venezuela was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 95 match minutes in a wonderful position. Guillermo Mariano didn't get a good kick on the ball. Venezuela's supporters were very happy and cheered loudly because their team had won after a very close match.