Challenge

Defensores del Chaco
Spectators: 44 (Terracing: 34, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) Paraguay's Jaime Pardo 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. The audience was convinced that Serafim de Carvalho's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Jacobo Nores was relentless in the 3rd minute of the game. In the 5th minute, Paraguay's Jaime Pardo ran free of his marker and smoothly shot the ball into the goal behind Mané França. Mané França yelled at his defense, as they had left him out to dry. 1-0. In the 9th match minute, Atlanta United F.C. was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Joel Leite to maneuver through the defense. The supporters of Paraguay booed when Atlanta United F.C. was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 13 match minutes in a wonderful position. Joel Leite didn't get a good kick on the ball. Fred Fernandez charged in rather forcefully in the 23rd minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Fred Fernandez the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. After 23 played minutes Atlanta United F.C. got a freekick which was hit by Fred Fernandez. Mané França made a fantastic save in the 28th minute, when Jaime Pardo sent off a good shot on target. The supporters of Atlanta United F.C. booed when Paraguay was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 34 match minutes in a wonderful position. Alan Campos didn't get a good kick on the ball. 35 minutes into the match, Paraguay's goal looked a bit too open when Fábio Castro came free, but Jacobo Nores reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. If Jaime Pardo had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 38th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. The supporters of Paraguay booed when Atlanta United F.C. was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 39 match minutes in a wonderful position. Fred Fernandez didn't get a good kick on the ball. The crowd rose to their feet as Paraguay's Hector Covarrubias slotted home a wonderful shot that went in to the left of Mané França. That made the score 3-0 after 40 minutes of play. Paraguay's attentive Xavier Zoido managed to snatch the ball when Joel Leite made a throw-in in the 46th minute of the game. When the referee blew for the end of the half the home team players were clearly happier, as they went in to the break leading 3-0.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Serafim de Carvalho to make the kick off. Atlanta United F.C.'s Mané França played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Jaime Pardo in the 52nd minute of play. If Hector Covarrubias had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 53rd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After a rather tough play, Atlanta United F.C.'s Fred Fernandez got a free kick in the 56th minute. In the 57th minute, Xavier Zoido hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Hector Covarrubias struck a weak shot in the 60th minute. Mané França didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Paraguay. A collision led to Atlanta United F.C. getting a freekick after 64 minutes play. Daniel da Fonseca hit a great ball. Alan Campos fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 68th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Mané França having to interfere. After a defensive mix-up in Atlanta United F.C.'s zone, Primitivo Escribano stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Mané França 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. An unexpectedly hard shot by Hector Covarrubias in the 74th minute of play forced Atlanta United F.C.'s goalkeeper Mané França to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Fabinho Peixoto charged in rather forcefully in the 82nd minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Fabinho Peixoto the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. In the 82nd minute, Fabinho Peixoto hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Paraguay's Jaime Pardo got a good chance for a goal in the 85th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. When Fabinho Salgado fell near the penalty area in the 86th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Atlanta United F.C.'s protests and gave Fabinho Salgado a yellow card for diving instead. Fabinho Salgado kicked well hit freekick during the 86th minute of the match. In the 90th match minute, Atlanta United F.C. was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Serafim de Carvalho to maneuver through the defense. Paraguay's Jaime Pardo managed, thanks to a brazen rush, stole the ball on a throw-in made by Joel Leite in the 93 minute of the game. Mané França made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Jaime Pardo in the 98th minute of play. Paraguay's supporters were delighted with their team's performance and swarmed onto the pitch at the end of the match to celebrate the victory with the players.