Challenge

Saitama Stadium
Spectators: 40 (Terracing: 31, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Germano Romero started the match with the kick off. Paraguay's Primitivo Escribano quite brazenly broke a throw-in by Germano Romero, made in the 5th minute of the game. Jorge Fantini made in the 9th minute of the game a throw-in that took a bad bounce and was taken care of by Paraguay's Alan Campos. Jacobo Nores was a little too slow when Jorge Fantini got a fine hit on the ball which went right into the goal in the 11th minute. The score was now 1-0. With splendid footwork Jorge Fantini arrived in front of goal to shoot 2-0 by the left pole in the game's 18th minute. In the 21st minute, THESPA KUSATSU GUNMA's Germano Romero ran free of his marker and smoothly shot the ball into the goal behind Jacobo Nores. Jacobo Nores yelled at his defense, as they had left him out to dry. 3-0. Willian de Alcântara showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Jaime Pardo, who was totally free with the ball in the 24th minute. 26 minutes into the match, Paraguay's goal looked a bit too open when Germano Romero came free, but Jacobo Nores reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Jorge Fantini in the 29th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Jacobo Nores prevented the ball from getting in the gole. Hector Covarrubias hit a great freekick 31 minutes into the match. After 33 minutes Paraguay's defender was forced to head the ball over the line for a corner. It was Agnaldo Diniz who took care of the corner kick. The supporters of Paraguay booed when THESPA KUSATSU GUNMA was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 35 match minutes in a wonderful position. Henrique Nóbrega didn't get a good kick on the ball. 39 minutes into the match, THESPA KUSATSU GUNMA's goal looked a bit too open when Hector Covarrubias came free, but Willian de Alcântara reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. A hard shot 43 in the game by Jorge Fantini from a close distance when the talented Jacobo Nores managed to make a qualified save. Paraguay's players were relieved. The audience thought a goal was coming when Agnaldo Diniz got free with Jacobo Nores in the 46th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. If Jorge Fantini had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 48th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Af the end of the first half the score was 3-0. 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. Jaime Pardo was the one to do the kick off. With a little luck, THESPA KUSATSU GUNMA's Willian de Alcântara got control of the ball when Hector Covarrubias tried to sneak it across the goal line. 66 minutes into the match, THESPA KUSATSU GUNMA's goalkeeper Willian de Alcântara had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Jaime Pardo. In the 67thth minute of the game Jorge Fantini who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Paraguay's Jacobo Nores was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. Jorge Fantini sent away a hard shot on goal in the 70th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After some careless play in the THESPA KUSATSU GUNMA defense, Jaime Pardo kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Willian de Alcântara. The THESPA KUSATSU GUNMA fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Willian de Alcântara should have stopped the shot. Jacobo Nores took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Germano Romero, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Jacobo Nores came out of the goal in the 82nd minute to try and stop a shot by THESPA KUSATSU GUNMA's Jorge Fantini. But to his dismay, Jorge Fantini quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 5-1. The supporters of THESPA KUSATSU GUNMA booed when Paraguay was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 89 match minutes in a wonderful position. Xavier Zoido didn't get a good kick on the ball. When the referee blew the final whistle, THESPA KUSATSU GUNMA could leave the field as winners, despite Paraguay having more of the ball for most of the match.