Challenge

Sebastien Faure
Spectators: 40 (Terracing: 31, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) Venezuela's Tomas Illescas 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. Venezuela's Jonathan Ferrant played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Ritvaldis Rau in the 10th minute of play. After a defensive mix-up in Venezuela's zone, Gilson Meirelles stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Jonathan Ferrant came out of the goal and Gilson Meirelles tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. The crowd rose to their feet as Juventudes Libertárias's Agostinho Almeida slotted home a wonderful shot that went in to the left of Jonathan Ferrant. That made the score 1-0 after 18 minutes of play. The crowd rose to their feet as Juventudes Libertárias's Agostinho Almeida slotted home a wonderful shot that went in to the left of Jonathan Ferrant. That made the score 2-0 after 29 minutes of play. After some careless play in the Juventudes Libertárias defense, Tomas Illescas kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Mauro Eliazar. The Juventudes Libertárias fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Mauro Eliazar should have stopped the shot. A collision led to Juventudes Libertárias getting a freekick after 36 minutes play. Lúcio da Silveira hit a great ball. A collision led to Juventudes Libertárias getting a freekick after 38 minutes play. Agostinho Almeida hit a great ball. 39 minutes into the match, Juventudes Libertárias's goal looked a bit too open when Patricio Costa came free, but Mauro Eliazar reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After a rather tough play, Venezuela's Rigoberto Mina got a free kick in the 47th minute. A hard shot by Rubinho Loureiro from long distance, 48 minutes into the match, got Jonathan Ferrant's attention. Through a fast twist with his body, he could stop the ball from going in on his right side. No-one was surprised that the home team were leading 2-1 at half-time.

The wind increased when Ritvaldis Rau made the kick off in the second half. Agostinho Almeida sent away a hard shot on goal in the 55th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. 58 minutes into the match, Gilson Meirelles notched a goal, 3-1, to the right of Venezuela's Jonathan Ferrant. Jonathan Ferrant was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. Jonathan Ferrant took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Ritvaldis Rau, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Tomas Illescas's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Mauro Eliazar read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 64th minute of play. In the 69th minute, Venezuela's Tomas Illescas dribbled the ball into the box and hit a shot with the outside of his foot, sending the keeper the wrong way. 3-2. If Patricio Costa had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 72nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. The audience was convinced that Agostinho Almeida's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Jonathan Ferrant was relentless in the 76th minute of the game. 78 minutes had been played when some careless play by Venezuela's defense caused the ball to cross the line for a corner. Rubinho Loureiro was slow to take the kick. During this time Juventudes Libertárias's players had a chance to rest. Rubinho Loureiro made a great header on Juventudes Libertárias's corner, it was just that Venezuela's Jonathan Ferrant managed to reach the ball for a save. In the 79th match minute, Venezuela was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Jose Correa to maneuver through the defense. 83 minutes into the match, Venezuela's goal looked a bit too open when Agostinho Almeida came free, but Jonathan Ferrant reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. An unexpectedly hard shot by Agostinho Almeida in the 86th minute of play forced Venezuela's goalkeeper Jonathan Ferrant to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. 89 minutes into the match, Venezuela's goal looked a bit too open when Agostinho Almeida came free, but Jonathan Ferrant reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. When Juventudes Libertárias's Agostinho Almeida in the 90th minute got a chance for a shot 90th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Venezuela's goalie prevented a goal. Lúcio da Silveira kicked well hit freekick during the 93rd 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 Juventudes Libertárias fans cheered their team off the field, for while Venezuela had put up a good fight, they were unable to come out of the game with any points to show for their effort.