Challenge

Estadio Olímpico
Spectators: 45 (Terracing: 35, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when 邱悦弘 kicked off to start the match. Agesilaus Michalaras was out of position in the 5 minute of play, and Tomas Illescas capitalized on the mistake with a soft shot into the goal. Tomas Illescas really showed his touch with that goal: 1-0. If Ilixo Abeita had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 14th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. With his leg Agesilaus Michalaras managed to avoid a goal in the 17thth minute, when Venezuela's Tomas Illescas fired away a shot with a lot of spin towards his right hand side. Agesilaus Michalaras stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Tomas Illescas's shot from short distance in the 19th minute. After 22 played minutes Venezuela got a freekick which was hit by Jose Correa. 29 minutes into the game, LIGHTNING's 邱悦弘 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, 1-1. With a little luck, LIGHTNING's Agesilaus Michalaras got control of the ball when Tomas Illescas tried to sneak it across the goal line. In the 36th minute, Rigoberto Mina hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. When the match had gone on for 38 minutes, 邱悦弘 put it in 1-2 from a short distance just to the right of Jonathan Ferrant. After 45 played minutes, Venezuela's Patricio Costa shot from a long distance, and at first it looked like the ball was going into the goal, but the goalkeeper Agesilaus Michalaras 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 Venezuela reached it. The Venezuela players were disheartened as they walked off the pitch after the first half. LIGHTNING were winning 1-2.

The wind increased when Tomas Illescas made the kick off in the second half. If Patricio Costa had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 51st minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Jonathan Ferrant made an important save on a dangerous shot by Stepan Bandera in the 54th minute. Jonathan Ferrant made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from 邱悦弘 in the 56th minute of play. An unexpectedly hard shot by Tomas Illescas in the 59th minute of play forced LIGHTNING's goalkeeper Agesilaus Michalaras to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 60th minute 邱悦弘 shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Jonathan Ferrant saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. The supporters of LIGHTNING booed when Venezuela was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 65 match minutes in a wonderful position. Alex Chicote didn't get a good kick on the ball. With a couple of smart ball manuevers 邱悦弘 in the 74th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Jonathan Ferrant saved Venezuela from getting behind. Ilixo Abeita fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 77th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Jonathan Ferrant having to interfere. Ricardo Carvalho hit a great freekick 78 minutes into the match. After 81 played minutes LIGHTNING got a freekick which was hit by Mathias Vestberg. When LIGHTNING's 邱悦弘 in the 86th minute got a chance for a shot 86th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Venezuela's goalie prevented a goal. A collision led to Venezuela getting a freekick after 89 minutes play. Joshua Secada hit a great ball. After having played for 95 minutes, Stepan Bandera managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. LIGHTNING's supporters crossed their fingers, but Stepan Bandera was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. 97 minutes into the game, Mathias Vestberg threw the ball into play from the sideline. Venezuela's Alex Chicote quickly snatched the ball and retained possesion. The LIGHTNING supporters could be heard counting down the last seconds of the match. They errupted in celebration when the whistle blew, knowing LIGHTNING would go home with victory in their luggage after a match that easily could have ended differently.