Challenge

Prato Valera Arena
Spectators: 41 (Terracing: 32, 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. After a defensive mix-up in Prato Valera's zone, Tomas Illescas stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Michelangelo Menduni 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. The crowd rose to their feet as Prato Valera's Alvise Sisti slotted home a wonderful shot that went in to the left of Jonathan Ferrant. That made the score 1-0 after 9 minutes of play. 16 minutes into the match, Venezuela's goal looked a bit too open when Alvise Sisti came free, but Jonathan Ferrant reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. When Lucas Orlandus came up free with the goalie in the 19th minute, the Prato Valera 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 Lucas Orlandus couldn't finish the play. Jonathan Ferrant showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Lucas Orlandus, who was totally free with the ball in the 22nd minute. When Tomas Illescas came up free with the goalie in the 24th minute, the Venezuela 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 Tomas Illescas couldn't finish the play. Camilo Gaos kicked well hit freekick during the 25th minute of the match. Venezuela's Jonathan Venegas managed, thanks to a brazen rush, stole the ball on a throw-in made by Octavio Chico in the 34 minute of the game. After 35 played minutes Venezuela got a freekick which was hit by Patricio Costa. Jonathan Ferrant acted impressively in front of the goal and made a superb save when he, in the 36th minute, took the ball on the long shot from Octavio Chico. Venezuela's Jonathan Ferrant proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 39th minute of the match, managed to save Venezuela from getting a goal against them. 41 minutes into the match, Emiliano Zulli dribbled the ball past the defender and swiftly kicked the ball to the left of Jonathan Ferrant, 2-1. After 45 minutes, Tomas Illescas mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Venezuela and the Prato Valera players grew even worse after the yellow card. Tomas Illescas hit a great freekick 45 minutes into the match.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Alvise Sisti to make the kick off. The supporters of Venezuela booed when Prato Valera was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 54 match minutes in a wonderful position. Octavio Chico didn't get a good kick on the ball. 59 minutes into the match, Emiliano Zulli 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 Emiliano Zulli was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 3-1. After a rather tough play, Prato Valera's Dave Petrini got a free kick in the 65th minute. Venezuela's Patricio Costa got a good chance for a goal in the 67th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. 71 minutes into the match, Alvise Sisti 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 Alvise Sisti was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 4-1. 75 minutes into the match, Prato Valera's goal looked a bit too open when Patricio Costa came free, but Michelangelo Menduni reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After 76 minutes Prato Valera's defender was forced to head the ball over the line for a corner. It was Tomas Illescas who took care of the corner kick. When the match had gone on for 84 minutes, Lucas Orlandus put it in 5-1 from a short distance just to the right of Jonathan Ferrant. 90 minutes into the match, Prato Valera's goalkeeper Michelangelo Menduni had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Tomas Illescas. If Patricio Costa had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 95th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. It was no surprise that this one had ended in a win for the home team. Prato Valera had played much better football throughout.