Challenge

Farid Richa
Spectators: 44 (Terracing: 34, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) In the 3rd minute Joshua Secada shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Tome Usel saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 4th minute the ball was on its way in behind Venezuela's goalkeeper Jonathan Ferrant, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. After some fancy dribbling in the 9th minute, Artur Acereda managed to get in a good position for a shot. Union Lara FC's supporters rose to their feet, but Artur Acereda was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Jonathan Ferrant breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. If Tomas Illescas had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 14th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. An unexpectedly hard shot by Lei Fei Song in the 15th minute of play forced Venezuela's goalkeeper Jonathan Ferrant to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. With a little luck, Venezuela's Jonathan Ferrant got control of the ball when Veremundo Salz tried to sneak it across the goal line. If Tomas Illescas had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 21st minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. 28 minutes into the match, Venezuela's goal looked a bit too open when Lei Fei Song came free, but Jonathan Ferrant reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. When Tomas Illescas came up free with the goalie in the 31st minute, the Venezuela 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 Illescas couldn't finish the play. Tomas Illescas might have been able to make a better finish in the 38th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Tome Usel. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Tomas Illescas ran back to his position shaking his head. Tome Usel made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Tomas Illescas in the 40th minute of play. With a little luck, Venezuela's Jonathan Ferrant got control of the ball when Veremundo Salz tried to sneak it across the goal line. The away team players looked dejected as the walked off the pitch at half time. They had fought hard, but were still losing 1-0.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Tomas Illescas made a kick off. The throw-in from Josue Corral in the 53rd minute of the game was unfortunally taken care of by Venezuela's Salvador Gisbert. Tome Usel made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Patricio Costa in the 55th minute of play. If Veremundo Salz had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 56th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Union Lara FC's Francis Salazar was substituted for Lei Fei Song. In the 61st minute, Josue Corral hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. The supporters of Venezuela booed when Union Lara FC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 63 match minutes in a wonderful position. Josue Corral didn't get a good kick on the ball. Francis Salazar struck a weak shot in the 69th 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 Union Lara FC. Joshua Secada made a great header on Venezuela's corner, it was just that Union Lara FC's Tome Usel managed to reach the ball for a save. The audience thought a goal was coming when Tomas Illescas got free with Tome Usel in the 74th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Venezuela's Jonathan Ferrant played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Francis Salazar in the 76th minute of play. The crowd rose to their feet as Tomas Illescas kicked a wonderful shot that went in to the left of a diving Tome Usel. That made the score 1-1 in the 77 minute of play. Kaiet Agustin kicked well hit freekick during the 80th minute of the match. Tomas Illescas received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 89th minute. Tome Usel tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. In the 93rd minute You Xiao Mo shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Jonathan Ferrant saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. After 96 played minutes Venezuela got a freekick which was hit by Guillermo Mariano. The crowd rose to their feet and cheered when the referee blew the final whistle. Union Lara FC had won after a very even match.