Challenge

Jorge Luis Hirschi
Spectators: 40 (Terracing: 31, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Elpidio Francis started the match with the kick off. 5 minutes into the match, ESTUDIANTES de la PLATA's goal looked a bit too open when Orlando Casaus came free, but Branislav Velchevski reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. ESTUDIANTES de la PLATA's Branislav Velchevski played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Mariano Lacasa in the 7th minute of play. Thiago Pliego made an important save on a dangerous shot by Elpidio Francis in the 8th minute. After 11 played minutes ESTUDIANTES de la PLATA got a freekick which was hit by Bonifacio Suarez. Mariano Lacasa fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 15th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Branislav Velchevski having to interfere. Branislav Velchevski took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Orlando Casaus, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Orlando Casaus took the ball and in the 17 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Branislav Velchevski. Branislav Velchevski dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 0-1. A collision led to ESTUDIANTES de la PLATA getting a freekick after 20 minutes play. Esteban Iztal hit a great ball. After 21 played minutes Chile got a freekick which was hit by Gerardo Pozo. If Mariano Lacasa had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 23rd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 31st minute Elpidio Francis shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Thiago Pliego saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Branislav Velchevski showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Mariano Lacasa in the 34th minute of the match. In the 35th minute, Elpidio Francis made a precise shot to the right of Thiago Pliego. Chile's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 1-1. An unexpectedly hard shot by Mariano Lacasa in the 40th minute of play forced ESTUDIANTES de la PLATA's goalkeeper Branislav Velchevski to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 41st minute of the match Chile got a corner. ESTUDIANTES de la PLATA's goalie ran out to the linesman to protest the call, but the linesman resolutely pointed his flag at the cornerflag. Mariano Lacasa ran over to the corner to take the kick. The score stood at 1-1 when the half time whistle went. Both sets of players seemed reasonably pleased with how the match was going.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Mariano Lacasa to strike the kick off in the second half. Thiago Pliego showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Arnaldo Gabon, who was totally free with the ball in the 54th minute. After having played for 57 minutes, Orlando Casaus managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Chile's supporters crossed their fingers, but Orlando Casaus was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. ESTUDIANTES de la PLATA made a substitution. Aristides Asteri replaced Arnaldo Gabon. ESTUDIANTES de la PLATA made a substitution. André Monclús replaced Elpidio Francis. Mariano Lacasa took the ball and in the 60 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Branislav Velchevski. Branislav Velchevski dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 2-2. ESTUDIANTES de la PLATA's Branislav Velchevski proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 64th minute of the match, managed to save ESTUDIANTES de la PLATA from getting a goal against them. The supporters of ESTUDIANTES de la PLATA booed when Chile was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 66 match minutes in a wonderful position. Guillermo Fontirroig didn't get a good kick on the ball. Bonifacio Suarez made in the 68th minute of the game a throw-in that took a bad bounce and was taken care of by Chile's Felix Garrido. An unexpectedly hard shot by André Monclús in the 70th minute of play forced Chile's goalkeeper Thiago Pliego to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 75th minute the ball was on its way in behind ESTUDIANTES de la PLATA's goalkeeper Branislav Velchevski, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. Olle Snell charged in rather forcefully in the 79th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Olle Snell the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. After 79 played minutes ESTUDIANTES de la PLATA got a freekick which was hit by Olle Snell. In the 84th minute the ball was on its way in behind Chile's goalkeeper Thiago Pliego, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. 86 minutes into the match, ESTUDIANTES de la PLATA's André Monclús sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Thiago Pliego narrowly saved just below the crossbar. André Monclús's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Thiago Pliego read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 88th minute of play. Mariano Lacasa's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Branislav Velchevski read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 90th minute of play. Despite being the better team, Chile failed to find the winning goal and were forced to settle for a single point.