Challenge

Darcy Ribeiro
Spectators: 42 (Terracing: 32, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Alix Vance got the match started through his kick off. 3 minutes into the match, Hugo Calderona had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Jonathan Ferrant. Venezuela's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Hugo Calderona was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 1-0. After 12 minutes of play, Venezuela's Tomas Illescas made it 1-1 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Fernando Donatello was left in no man's land by his defense there! With a couple of smart ball manuevers Tomas Illescas in the 20th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Fernando Donatello saved Clube Audax Metropolitano from getting behind. The Venezuela fans' excitement grew in the 22nd match minute when Venezuela's Tomas Illescas looked to have a clear shot with the ball near the goal. The shot wasn't hard, but the ball still rolled over the goal line to make it 1-2 before the goalkeeper had a chance to intervene. Camilo Gaos hit a great freekick 24 minutes into the match. Venezuela's Jonathan Venegas managed, thanks to a brazen rush, stole the ball on a throw-in made by Wiliam Martins in the 27 minute of the game. Alix Vance received a nice pass, split the defenders, and ran untouched towards the goal. Jonathan Ferrant came out and tried to block the shot, but Alix Vance slotted it home off the left post making it 2-2 in the 30th minute. The supporters of Clube Audax Metropolitano booed when Venezuela was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 33 match minutes in a wonderful position. Patricio Costa didn't get a good kick on the ball. 41 minutes into the match, Venezuela's goal looked a bit too open when Alix Vance came free, but Jonathan Ferrant reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Patricio Costa might have been able to make a better finish in the 43rd minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Fernando Donatello. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Patricio Costa ran back to his position shaking his head. Clube Audax Metropolitano's Alix Vance got a good chance for a goal in the 44th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. The fans had the chance to grab some refreshments as the whistle went for half-time. The score stood at 2-2 after a close first half.

In the 53rd minute, Patricio Costa fired away a killer shot towards the goal that, to the delight of Fernando Donatello, passed just outside the right post. Juan Gerber kicked well hit freekick during the 54th minute of the match. When Wiliam Martins fell near the penalty area in the 55th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Clube Audax Metropolitano's protests and gave Wiliam Martins a yellow card for diving instead. Patricio Costa fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 56th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Fernando Donatello having to interfere. When Hugo Calderona came up free with the goalie in the 59th minute, the Clube Audax Metropolitano 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 Hugo Calderona couldn't finish the play. A collision led to Venezuela getting a freekick after 64 minutes play. Jose Correa hit a great ball. In the 67th minute, Patricio Costa hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Fernando Donatello made a fantastic save in the 68th minute, when Tomas Illescas sent off a good shot on target. Venezuela's attacker deliberately struck the ball against an opponent to win a corner for his team. The corner was taken by Tomas Illescas in the 70th minute. After taking down the ball on Venezuela's corner Tomas Illescas fired away a hard shot, but the defenders efficiently covered the most dangerous angles and Fernando Donatello quite easily take care of the ball. After 70th play minutes Tomas Illescas shot 2-3, a short shot which went by Fernando Donatello and just under the crossbar into goal. In the 74th 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. Tomas Illescas sent away a hard shot on goal in the 80th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. In the 83rd minute Patricio Costa shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Fernando Donatello saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. 96 minutes into the match, Clube Audax Metropolitano's goal looked a bit too open when Patricio Costa came free, but Fernando Donatello reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Venezuela's supporters were very happy and cheered loudly because their team had won after a very close match.