Challenge

UNITED
Spectators: 42 (Terracing: 32, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) 4 minutes into the match, Venezuela's goalkeeper Jonathan Ferrant had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Cresitobalo Cortes. Tomas Illescas received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 5th minute. Jan Oblak tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Tomas Illescas blasted a shot towards the goal in the 7th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Jan Oblak having to make a save. In the 7th minute Tomas Illescas shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Jan Oblak saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. If Tomas Illescas had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 9th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. Jan Oblak showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Tomas Illescas, who was totally free with the ball in the 18th minute. 22 minutes into the match, Venezuela's goal looked a bit too open when Cresitobalo Cortes came free, but Jonathan Ferrant reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. 24 minutes into the game, Jose Correa was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Venezuela's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave UNITED the free kick. In the 26th minute, Thomas Izaguirre hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. After a defensive mix-up in UNITED's zone, Tomas Illescas stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Jan Oblak came out of the goal and Tomas Illescas tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Tomas Illescas sent away a hard shot on goal in the 37th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. The supporters of UNITED booed when Venezuela was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 40 match minutes in a wonderful position. Alex Chicote didn't get a good kick on the ball. Cresitobalo Cortes received a nice pass, split the defenders, and ran untouched towards the goal. Jonathan Ferrant came out and tried to block the shot, but Cresitobalo Cortes slotted it home off the left post making it 2-0 in the 42nd minute. Thomas Izaguirre made in the 45th minute of the game a throw-in that took a bad bounce and was taken care of by Venezuela's Alex Chicote. After 47 minutes, Tomas Illescas mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Venezuela and the UNITED players grew even worse after the yellow card. Tomas Illescas hit a great freekick 47 minutes into the match. No-one was surprised that the home team were leading 2-0 at half-time.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Tomas Illescas to make the kick off. Eder Saavedra received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 54th minute. Jonathan Ferrant tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. With a little luck, UNITED's Jan Oblak got control of the ball when Tomas Illescas tried to sneak it across the goal line. With his leg Jan Oblak managed to avoid a goal in the 57thth minute, when Venezuela's Tomas Illescas fired away a shot with a lot of spin towards his right hand side. Jonathan Ferrant showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Cresitobalo Cortes, who was totally free with the ball in the 60th minute. Alex Chicote made in the 62nd minute of the game a fairly good throw-in which was taken care of by Patricio Costa. When Salvador Gisbert fell near the penalty area in the 65th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Venezuela's protests and gave Salvador Gisbert a yellow card for diving instead. Salvador Gisbert kicked well hit freekick during the 65th minute of the match. Tomas Illescas's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Jan Oblak read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 82nd minute of play. The supporters of Venezuela booed when UNITED was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 82 match minutes in a wonderful position. Graciano Teruel didn't get a good kick on the ball. After having played for 85 minutes, Cresitobalo Cortes managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. UNITED's supporters crossed their fingers, but Cresitobalo Cortes was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. In the 87th match minute, UNITED was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Thomas Izaguirre to maneuver through the defense. UNITED's Thomas Izaguirre managed, thanks to a brazen rush, stole the ball on a throw-in made by Salvador Gisbert in the 91 minute of the game. The referee blew the whistle for a penalty in the 94th minute of the game. One of UNITED:s players had nearly got his shirt torn off by an opponent while getting free in front of Venezuela:s goal. Tomas Illescas placed the ball on the penalty spot and got himself ready to shoot. Post out! After 97 played minutes UNITED got a freekick which was hit by Samuel Arraz. UNITED's supporters were highly satisfied with the result. They cheered their team of the pitch, having watched them win a very even match.