Challenge

Est Rommel Fernández
Spectators: 49 (Terracing: 38, Seating: 11, VIP seats: 0) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Samson Kalekye got the match started through his kick off. In the 3rd minute, Felipe Ros hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Tony Githongo in the 4th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Marcos Cotilla saved Panama from getting behind. Abraham Alguacil scored 1-0 in the 7th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Ngethe Mutuku, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. Marcos Cotilla made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Richard Israel in the 13th minute of play. When Duncan Mwangi fell near the penalty area in the 18th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Restaurante Salento's protests and gave Duncan Mwangi a yellow card for diving instead. Duncan Mwangi hit a great freekick 18 minutes into the match. Abraham Alguacil who was well placed in front of the goal fired away a dangerous shot that in the 27thth minute tested the skills of Ngethe Mutuku when he managed to save the team from getting behind. Miguel Miralles fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 28th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Ngethe Mutuku having to interfere. Ngethe Mutuku made an important save on a dangerous shot by Abraham Alguacil in the 31st minute. An unexpectedly hard shot by Richard Israel in the 36th minute of play forced Panama's goalkeeper Marcos Cotilla to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 42nd minute, Panama's Tomas Berganza ran free of his marker and smoothly shot the ball into the goal behind Ngethe Mutuku. Ngethe Mutuku yelled at his defense, as they had left him out to dry. 2-0. All the noise was coming from the home fans when the whistle went for half-time. The home team had fought hardest to put themselves in a deserved lead.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Tomas Berganza made a kick off. Restaurante Salento's Ngethe Mutuku played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Isidoro Sarmiento in the 53rd minute of play. In the 53rdth minute of the game Isidoro Sarmiento who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Restaurante Salento's Ngethe Mutuku was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. After a rather tough play, Restaurante Salento's Tony Githongo got a free kick in the 54th minute. The supporters of Restaurante Salento booed when Panama was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 56 match minutes in a wonderful position. Miguel Miralles didn't get a good kick on the ball. In the 57th minute of the match Robert Kiplagat sent off a long shot with destination to the right of the goalkeeper, but Marcos Cotilla skillfully saved the ball. An unexpectedly hard shot by Isidoro Sarmiento in the 58th minute of play forced Restaurante Salento's goalkeeper Ngethe Mutuku to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. After 59 played minutes Restaurante Salento got a freekick which was hit by Samson Kalekye. After 67 minutes Restaurante Salento's defender was forced to head the ball over the line for a corner. It was Abraham Alguacil who took care of the corner kick. When Tomas Berganza came up free with the goalie in the 70th minute, the Panama 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 Tomas Berganza couldn't finish the play. If Isidoro Sarmiento had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 73rd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Tomas Berganza sent away a hard shot on goal in the 75th minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. Panama's Marcos Cotilla played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Richard Israel in the 77th minute of play. Amos Chepchumba might have been able to make a better finish in the 78th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Marcos Cotilla. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Amos Chepchumba ran back to his position shaking his head. Panama's Marcos Cotilla proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 81st minute of the match, managed to save Panama from getting a goal against them. Aaron Barrios's late challenge caught a Restaurante Salento's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Aaron Barrios helped the player get up and apologised. Aaron Barrios hit a great freekick 83 minutes into the match. In the 84th minute, Restaurante Salento's Tony Githongo ran free of his marker and smoothly shot the ball into the goal behind Marcos Cotilla. Marcos Cotilla yelled at his defense, as they had left him out to dry. 2-1. After 89 minutes of play Restaurante Salento's Samson Kalekye was too eager in his attempt to stop his opponent and brought him down. With that he got his second yellow card and was ordered off the ground. Samson Kalekye hit a great freekick 90 minutes into the match. Ngethe Mutuku made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Abraham Alguacil in the 93rd minute of play. The referee blew his whistle, and the match came to a close. The players exchanged shirts and headed down the tunnel. The Panama fans cheered their team off the field, for while Restaurante Salento had put up a good fight, they were unable to come out of the game with any points to show for their effort.