Challenge

Defensores del Chaco
Spectators: 45 (Terracing: 35, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) LUPI's Alex Abbagnale started the match with a crisp pass. The crowd had been anticipating this game for weeks and the excitement in the stadium was easily visible. Jacobo Nores showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Alex Abbagnale, who was totally free with the ball in the 3rd minute. Bernardo Orsini was in the perfect position, and the defense had done a good job marking him, but Jaime Pardo showcased his skills and made a perfect shot to score 1-0 in the 5 minute of play. Jaime Pardo recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 9th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Jaime Pardo in the 11th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Bernardo Orsini prevented the ball from getting in the gole. Hector Covarrubias sent away a hard shot on goal in the 16th minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. If Jaime Pardo had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 19th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. 21 minutes into the game, Hector Covarrubias recieved a splendid long ball, split the defenders, and gently placed the ball to the left of Bernardo Orsini. Hector Covarrubias showed that you don't have to tear a hole in the net to score, 3-0. 26 minutes into the match, LUPI's goal looked a bit too open when Hector Covarrubias came free, but Bernardo Orsini reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 36th minute Jaime Pardo shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Bernardo Orsini saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. After having played for 37 minutes, Primitivo Escribano managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Paraguay's supporters crossed their fingers, but Primitivo Escribano was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. The audience was convinced that Jaime Pardo's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Bernardo Orsini was relentless in the 39th minute of the game. After a defensive mix-up in LUPI's zone, Primitivo Escribano stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Bernardo Orsini came out of the goal and Primitivo Escribano tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. After some fancy dribbling in the 44th minute, Primitivo Escribano managed to get in a good position for a shot. Paraguay's supporters rose to their feet, but Primitivo Escribano was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Bernardo Orsini breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Alex Abbagnale received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 47th minute. Jacobo Nores tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. 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.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Jaime Pardo to make the kick off. A collision led to LUPI getting a freekick after 56 minutes play. Francesco Marrone hit a great ball. A collision led to LUPI getting a freekick after 58 minutes play. Beppe Longo hit a great ball. Jaime Pardo blasted a shot towards the goal in the 60th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Bernardo Orsini having to make a save. 62 minutes into the match, Jaime Pardo had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Bernardo Orsini. LUPI's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Jaime Pardo was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 4-1. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Hector Covarrubias in the 67th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Bernardo Orsini saved LUPI from getting behind. Bernardo Orsini made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Jaime Pardo in the 68th minute of play. The crowd rose to their feet as LUPI's Alex Abbagnale slotted home a wonderful shot that went in to the left of Jacobo Nores. That made the score 4-2 after 69 minutes of play. A collision led to LUPI getting a freekick after 72 minutes play. Elia Renzi hit a great ball. After 73 played minutes, Paraguay's Primitivo Escribano shot from a long distance, and at first it looked like the ball was going into the goal, but the goalkeeper Bernardo Orsini came through and got his fingers on the ball before it flew over the goal line. He then quickly gripped the ball tighter before the forwards in Paraguay reached it. In the 74th minute Jaime Pardo shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Bernardo Orsini saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Hector Covarrubias sent away a hard shot on goal in the 82nd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After 83 played minutes Paraguay got a freekick which was hit by Xavier Zoido. Jacobo Nores showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Beppe Longo, who was totally free with the ball in the 85th minute. In the 87th minute, Hector Covarrubias ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Bernardo Orsini was frozen by the shot and now it was 5-2. Jacobo Nores was out of position in the 89 minute of play, and Francesco Marrone capitalized on the mistake with a soft shot into the goal. Francesco Marrone really showed his touch with that goal: 5-3. After 93 minutes, Hector Covarrubias mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Paraguay and the LUPI players grew even worse after the yellow card. Hector Covarrubias kicked well hit freekick during the 93rd minute of the match. When Alex Abbagnale came up free with the goalie in the 95th minute, the LUPI 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 Alex Abbagnale couldn't finish the play. It was no surprise that this one had ended in a win for the home team. Paraguay had played much better football throughout.