Challenge

Joaquin muñoz
Spectators: 43 (Terracing: 33, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) 3 minutes into the match, Chile's Mariano Lacasa sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Ilkka Markkula narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Mariano Lacasa fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 5th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Ilkka Markkula having to interfere. After 8 minutes, Mariano Lacasa mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Chile and the Club Deportes Santa Cruz players grew even worse after the yellow card. After a rather tough play, Chile's Mariano Lacasa got a free kick in the 8th minute. After a rather tough play, Club Deportes Santa Cruz's Podador Raheiro got a free kick in the 9th minute. Orlando Casaus struck a weak shot in the 12th minute. Ilkka Markkula didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Chile. Thiago Pliego showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Podador Raheiro in the 14th minute of the match. A collision led to Club Deportes Santa Cruz getting a freekick after 15 minutes play. Shi Yuan hit a great ball. Mariano Lacasa received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 18th minute. Ilkka Markkula tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Mariano Lacasa's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Ilkka Markkula read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 22nd minute of play. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Jacinto Gebhard during the 24th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. A collision led to Club Deportes Santa Cruz getting a freekick after 24 minutes play. Jacinto Gebhard hit a great ball. 26 minutes into the game, Club Deportes Santa Cruz's Podador Raheiro nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Thiago Pliego made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 1-0. With a little luck, Chile's Thiago Pliego got control of the ball when Podador Raheiro tried to sneak it across the goal line. Podador Raheiro did some fancy footwork in front of goal and succeeded to deceive the defenders so he could slam the ball in 2-0 to the left of a surprised Thiago Pliego 40 minutes into the match. Mariano Lacasa recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 43rd minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. After a defensive mix-up in Chile's zone, Podador Raheiro stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Thiago Pliego came out of the goal and Podador Raheiro tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. The away team players looked dejected as the walked off the pitch at half time. They had fought hard, but were still losing 2-0.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Podador Raheiro was the one to do the kick off. Thiago Pliego took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Podador Raheiro, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. After 53 played minutes Chile got a freekick which was hit by Guillermo Fontirroig. The audience was convinced that Podador Raheiro's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Thiago Pliego was relentless in the 56th minute of the game. Club Deportes Santa Cruz's Marcus Edström was substituted for Jacinto Gebhard. Club Deportes Santa Cruz made a substitution. Yan Zhi Chuan replaced Podador Raheiro. 61 minutes had been played when some careless play by Chile's defense caused the ball to cross the line for a corner. Trayko Gradinarski was slow to take the kick. During this time Club Deportes Santa Cruz's players had a chance to rest. A nice corner shot did that Trayko Gradinarski got away a dangerous shot. Despite this Thiago Pliego quite easily got ahold of the ball to make the save. Marcus Edström fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 64th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Thiago Pliego having to interfere. Ilkka Markkula made an important save on a dangerous shot by Mariano Lacasa in the 66th minute. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Yan Zhi Chuan in the 74th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Thiago Pliego saved Chile from getting behind. If Yan Zhi Chuan had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 77th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Ilkka Markkula made a fantastic save in the 80th minute, when Mariano Lacasa sent off a good shot on target. After a rather tough play, Club Deportes Santa Cruz's Antonio Gorri got a free kick in the 81st minute. When Mariano Lacasa came up free with the goalie in the 87th minute, the Chile 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 Mariano Lacasa couldn't finish the play. After a rather tough play, Club Deportes Santa Cruz's Antonio Gorri got a free kick in the 92nd minute. 94 minutes into the match, Chile's goal looked a bit too open when Marcus Edström came free, but Thiago Pliego reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Club Deportes Santa Cruz were really happy, having secured the victory after a very even contest. They thanked the players of Chile for a fine match.