Challenge

Gran Arena
Spectators: 39 (Terracing: 30, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) Rufino Rengifo started the match with the kick off in front of an excited audience. Venezuela's Tomas Illescas got a good chance for a goal in the 7th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Jonathan Ferrant made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Rufino Rengifo in the 10th minute of play. A.C. Renascença's Cristóvão Leite was first on the ball when the corner was shot and he dangerously headed the ball towards goal, but Jonathan Ferrant in the goal jumped up to prevent it from getting in. Ciriaco George's shot when he came free in front of the goal in the 13thth minute, Jonathan Ferrant skillfully showed off with a save to what seemed to be an obvious goal. In the 14th minute of the match, Tony Hazard got a very nice opportunity to score, but Jonathan Ferrant was well-placed and pushed the ball away from the goal at the left post. Tomas Illescas sent away a hard shot on goal in the 22nd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. In the 27th match minute, A.C. Renascença was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Tony Hazard to maneuver through the defense. Baltazar Luz didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Tomas Illescas went, in the 28th minute, to the upper right corner, 0-1 was the resulting score. When Narciso Vaz came up free with the goalie in the 36th minute, the A.C. Renascença fans jumped to their feet. But the shot missed the goal by a fraction of an inch, and the fans sat back down disappointed that Narciso Vaz couldn't finish the play. After 37 minutes, Jose Correa mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Venezuela and the A.C. Renascença players grew even worse after the yellow card. Jose Correa hit a great freekick 37 minutes into the match. Thanks to some nice moves Ciriaco George could shoot a difficult shot in the 38th minute, which Jonathan Ferrant however easily saved by the left post. Rufino Rengifo hit a great freekick 39 minutes into the match. Patricio Costa sent away a hard shot on goal in the 42nd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After the first half Venezuela were leading 0-1. They had played with great self confidence throughout the first half and fully deserved their lead.

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. Baltazar Luz showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Tomas Illescas in the 52nd minute of the match. An unexpectedly hard shot by Rufino Rengifo in the 54th minute of play forced Venezuela's goalkeeper Jonathan Ferrant to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Baltazar Luz was a little too slow when Tomas Illescas got a fine hit on the ball which went right into the goal in the 57th minute. The score was now 0-2. Baltazar Luz took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Tomas Illescas, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 69th minute, A.C. Renascença's goalie took a deep sigh of relief after Tomas Illescas fired away a hard shot that went just outside the left post. Rufino Rengifo'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 71st minute of play. Alex Chicote charged in rather forcefully in the 72nd minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Alex Chicote the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. After a rather tough play, A.C. Renascença's Alfredão Silva got a free kick in the 76th minute. In the 78th minute, Samuel Cosme left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The A.C. Renascença fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 1-2. The crowd rose to their feet as Venezuela's Tomas Illescas slotted home a wonderful shot that went in to the left of Baltazar Luz. That made the score 1-3 after 87 minutes of play. The Venezuela supporters could be heard counting down the last seconds of the match. They errupted in celebration when the whistle blew, knowing Venezuela would go home with victory in their luggage after a match that easily could have ended differently.