Challenge

El Monumental
Spectators: 40 (Terracing: 31, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) RIVER's Niki Lauda 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. After some fancy dribbling in the 4th minute, Niki Lauda managed to get in a good position for a shot. RIVER's supporters rose to their feet, but Niki Lauda was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Jonathan Ferrant breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Marcial Lordi took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Tomas Illescas, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Marcial Lordi didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Tomas Illescas went, in the 6th minute, to the upper right corner, 0-1 was the resulting score. Niki Lauda recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 9th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. In the 13th minute of the match RIVER got a corner. Venezuela's goalie ran out to the linesman to protest the call, but the linesman resolutely pointed his flag at the cornerflag. Giovanni Lenhardt ran over to the corner to take the kick. A collision led to Venezuela getting a freekick after 17 minutes play. Patricio Costa hit a great ball. Eric Târban's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Jonathan Ferrant read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 28th minute of play. Eric Târban might have been able to make a better finish in the 31st minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Jonathan Ferrant. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Eric Târban ran back to his position shaking his head. Venezuela's Jonathan Ferrant proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 32nd minute of the match, managed to save Venezuela from getting a goal against them. 35 minutes in the game Giovanni Lenhardt after having made a beautiful turn got a great opportunity to score and fired away a shot that went just to the left past a relieved Jonathan Ferrant. A very good opportunity. Niki Lauda sent away a hard shot on goal in the 36th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. With a little luck, Venezuela's Jonathan Ferrant got control of the ball when Eric Târban tried to sneak it across the goal line. Disappointed in the 0-1 score, the home team went to the dressing room to adjust tactics for the second half.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Tomas Illescas was the one to do the kick off. Tomas Illescas fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 55th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Marcial Lordi having to interfere. Niki Lauda spun around in front of the goal 58 minutes in the game, and got away a shot that, to his disappointment, went to the left of Venezuela's goal. RIVER made a substitution. Pipo Benedetto replaced Eric Târban. Tomas Illescas sent away a hard shot on goal in the 61st minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. In the 67th match minute, RIVER was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Giovanni Lenhardt to maneuver through the defense. In the 72nd match minute, RIVER was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Fidel Gora to maneuver through the defense. The corner went over the outstretched arms of Venezuela's goalie and right to Isaac Nuxila. He fired away a shot at goal, but the shot had too much spin, and it went just outside the goal. Venezuela's manager breathed a sigh of relief on the sidelines as his team had managed to escape an almost certain goal. 79 minutes into the match, Pipo Benedetto had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Jonathan Ferrant. Venezuela's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Pipo Benedetto was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 1-1. A collision led to RIVER getting a freekick after 83 minutes play. Niki Lauda hit a great ball. RIVER's Wu Li Zhi was substituted for Niki Lauda. A collision led to RIVER getting a freekick after 84 minutes play. Niki Lauda hit a great ball. The audience thought a goal was coming when Tomas Illescas got free with Marcial Lordi in the 86th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. If Tomas Illescas had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 88th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. 91 minutes into the match, Venezuela's goal looked a bit too open when Pipo Benedetto came free, but Jonathan Ferrant reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. A sloppy throw-in by Fidel Gora in the 95th minute of the game went astray and was snapped up by Venezuela's Alex Chicote. Jeers came from both ends of the stadium when the final whistle went. Neither team had looked impressive and the draw seeemd a fair result.