Challenge

Paolo Poli
Spectators: 41 (Terracing: 32, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when Tomas Illescas kicked off to start the match. Venezuela's Jonathan Ferrant proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 5th minute of the match, managed to save Venezuela from getting a goal against them. Cesare Di Renzo succeeded in the game's 15th minute to shoot an unreachable shot under the crossbar and scored - 1-0. Jonathan Ferrant took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Ni Liang Yong, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. 26 minutes into the game, Venezuela's Tomas Illescas nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Flavio Lavatrice made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 1-1. The referee blew the whistle for a penalty in the 29th minute of the game. One of Molfetta sportiva:s players had nearly got his shirt torn off by an opponent while getting free in front of Venezuela:s goal. 32 minutes into the match, Venezuela's goal looked a bit too open when Carmine Iannone came free, but Jonathan Ferrant reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. 37 minutes into the game, Carmine Iannone recieved a splendid long ball, split the defenders, and gently placed the ball to the left of Jonathan Ferrant. Carmine Iannone showed that you don't have to tear a hole in the net to score, 2-1. The audience was convinced that Carmine Iannone's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Jonathan Ferrant was relentless in the 42nd minute of the game. Carmine Iannone fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 43rd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Jonathan Ferrant having to interfere. Af the end of the first half the score was 2-1. The first half had gone as expected for the home team.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Cesare Di Renzo was the one to do the kick off. In the 52nd minute, Carmine Iannone left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The Molfetta sportiva fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 3-1. Venezuela's Jonathan Ferrant played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Cesare Di Renzo in the 60th minute of play. When Fedele Fanelli fell near the penalty area in the 66th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Molfetta sportiva's protests and gave Fedele Fanelli a yellow card for diving instead. The supporters of Venezuela booed when Molfetta sportiva was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 66 match minutes in a wonderful position. Fedele Fanelli didn't get a good kick on the ball. Molfetta sportiva made a substitution. Dario Melani replaced Cesare Di Renzo. In the 67th match minute, Molfetta sportiva was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Fedele Fanelli to maneuver through the defense. Jonathan Ferrant showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Carmine Iannone in the 69th minute of the match. Tomas Illescas struck a weak shot in the 75th minute. Flavio Lavatrice didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Venezuela. 86 minutes into the game, Molfetta sportiva's Dario Melani nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Jonathan Ferrant made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 5-1. An unexpectedly hard shot by Dario Melani in the 89th minute of play forced Venezuela's goalkeeper Jonathan Ferrant to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 89th minute, Jose Correa hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Dario Melani received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 95th minute. Jonathan Ferrant tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. For all the effort they put into the match, the Venezuela players left disappointed. They had fought hard, but couldn't break down the home team's defense. The match ended in a win for Molfetta sportiva.