Challenge

Est Rommel Fernández
Spectators: 44 (Terracing: 34, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Emerson Cruz took the kick off in the first half of the match. After having played for 8 minutes, Isidoro Sarmiento managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Panama's supporters crossed their fingers, but Isidoro Sarmiento was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. After some careless play in the Panama defense, Marco Seco kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Marcos Cotilla. The Panama fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Marcos Cotilla should have stopped the shot. Abraham Alguacil shot the penalty kick right outside the post. When Marco Seco came up free with the goalie in the 28th minute, the INTER FC 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 Marco Seco couldn't finish the play. Marco Seco might have been able to make a better finish in the 30th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Marcos Cotilla. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Marco Seco ran back to his position shaking his head. An unexpectedly hard shot by Marco Seco in the 31st minute of play forced Panama's goalkeeper Marcos Cotilla to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 33rd minute, Bruno Alves hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Tomas Berganza sent away a hard shot on goal in the 33rd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. A collision led to Panama getting a freekick after 36 minutes play. Isidoro Sarmiento hit a great ball. In the 46th minute Emerson Cruz shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Marcos Cotilla saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 47th minute INTER FC were awarded a corner. Emerson Cruz went to the cornerflag to take it. The corner led INTER FC's Emerson Cruz to fire away a dangerous shot which Marcos Cotilla despite some difficulties managed to get hold on the ball. In the 48th minute INTER FC were awarded a corner. Emerson Cruz went to the cornerflag to take it. After taking down the ball on INTER FC's corner Emerson Cruz fired away a hard shot, but the defenders efficiently covered the most dangerous angles and Marcos Cotilla quite easily take care of the ball.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Tomas Berganza to make the kick off. Leon Kosmatka made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Miguel Miralles in the 54th minute of play. After a rather tough play, INTER FC's Fiori de Lara got a free kick in the 55th minute. Abraham Alguacil blasted a shot towards the goal in the 62nd minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Leon Kosmatka having to make a save. INTER FC made a substitution. Mandi Oca replaced Emerson Cruz. In the 65th match minute, INTER FC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Rafael Veiga to maneuver through the defense. When Isidoro Sarmiento fell near the penalty area in the 66th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Panama's protests and gave Isidoro Sarmiento a yellow card for diving instead. In the 66th minute, Isidoro Sarmiento hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. If Hortêncio Linhares had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 72nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. Hortêncio Linhares came free with the goalkeeper in the 72nd minute of the match, and shot straight on target. The shot was a little too simple and Marcos Cotilla could save by the left post. After having played for 78 minutes, Hortêncio Linhares managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. INTER FC's supporters crossed their fingers, but Hortêncio Linhares was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Panama's Marcos Cotilla played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Mandi Oca in the 86th minute of play. The INTER FC supporters could be heard counting down the last seconds of the match. They errupted in celebration when the whistle blew, knowing INTER FC would go home with victory in their luggage after a match that easily could have ended differently.