Challenge

Oscar Parada
Spectators: 40 (Terracing: 31, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) Colombia's Abram Sarmiento 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. Axel Montenegro charged in rather forcefully in the 2nd minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Axel Montenegro the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. The supporters of Vélez Juniors booed when Colombia was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 2 match minutes in a wonderful position. Axel Montenegro didn't get a good kick on the ball. 3 minutes into the match, Cristian Naike had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Pedro Manzanares. Colombia's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Cristian Naike was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 1-0. Pedro Manzanares showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Cristian Naike in the 5th minute of the match. In the 7th minute, Axel Montenegro 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. An unexpectedly hard shot by Axel Montenegro in the 10th minute of play forced Vélez Juniors's goalkeeper Elpidio Vitin to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Guido Luzaide scored 2-0 in the 13th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Pedro Manzanares, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. In the 18th minute Abram Sarmiento shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Elpidio Vitin saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. If Axel Montenegro had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 21st minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. An unexpectedly hard shot by Axel Montenegro in the 21st minute of play forced Vélez Juniors's goalkeeper Elpidio Vitin to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Benigno Gurutz kicked well hit freekick during the 23rd minute of the match. 25 minutes into the match, Vélez Juniors's goal looked a bit too open when Santino Seco came free, but Elpidio Vitin reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Colombia's Kevin Mastache quite brazenly broke a throw-in by Benigno Gurutz, made in the 29th minute of the game. Axel Montenegro blasted a shot towards the goal in the 29th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Elpidio Vitin having to make a save. Pedro Manzanares made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Benicio Rivas in the 34th minute of play. In the 36th minute Abram Sarmiento shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Elpidio Vitin saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Axel Montenegro struck a weak shot in the 38th minute. Elpidio Vitin didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Colombia. When Colombia's Axel Montenegro in the 40th minute got a chance for a shot 40th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Vélez Juniors's goalie prevented a goal. Axel Montenegro might have been able to make a better finish in the 42nd minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Elpidio Vitin. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Axel Montenegro ran back to his position shaking his head. Elpidio Vitin took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Axel Montenegro, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Alberto Joey made in the 43rd minute of the game a throw-in that took a bad bounce and was taken care of by Colombia's Antonio Indiano. Colombia's Pedro Manzanares proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 45th minute of the match, managed to save Colombia from getting a goal against them. An unexpectedly hard shot by Benicio Rivas in the 46th minute of play forced Colombia's goalkeeper Pedro Manzanares to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. After 48 minutes of play, Colombia's Axel Montenegro made it 2-1 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Elpidio Vitin was left in no man's land by his defense there! No-one was surprised that the home team were leading 2-1 at half-time.

In the 59th match minute, Vélez Juniors was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Alberto Joey to maneuver through the defense. Vélez Juniors made a substitution. Godofredo Ado replaced Alberto Joey. Colombia's Ignacio Mastache was substituted for Abram Sarmiento. Godofredo Ado made in the 68th minute of the game a fairly good throw-in which was taken care of by Guido Luzaide. 69 minutes into the game, Cristian Naike cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 3-3. Pedro Manzanares was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. Vélez Juniors's Elpidio Vitin played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Ignacio Mastache in the 72nd minute of play. In the 74th minute, Nicolas Roland made a precise shot to the right of Pedro Manzanares. Colombia's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 4-3. Godofredo Ado made in the 77th minute of the game a quick throw-in and Benigno Gurutz immediately put the ball in play. Nicolas Roland fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 78th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Pedro Manzanares having to interfere. Pedro Manzanares showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Nicolas Roland, who was totally free with the ball in the 80th minute. The crowd rose to their feet as Abram Secada kicked a wonderful shot that went in to the left of a diving Elpidio Vitin. That made the score 4-4 in the 82 minute of play. Pedro Manzanares made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Cristian Naike in the 85th minute of play. A collision led to Colombia getting a freekick after 88 minutes play. Samuel Navarro hit a great ball. Nicolas Roland recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 89th 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 Ignacio Mastache in the 95th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Elpidio Vitin prevented the ball from getting in the gole. Elpidio Vitin showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Ignacio Mastache in the 96th minute of the match. The referee blew his whistle, and the match came to a close. The players exchanged shirts and headed down the tunnel. The Vélez Juniors fans cheered their team off the field, for while Colombia had put up a good fight, they were unable to come out of the game with any points to show for their effort.