Challenge

DIEGO MARADONA
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. An unexpectedly hard shot by Tomas Illescas in the 8th minute of play forced bicho colorado's goalkeeper Adan Rafel to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Tomas Illescas scored 0-1 in the 8th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Adan Rafel, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. Jose Correa's late challenge caught a bicho colorado's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Jose Correa helped the player get up and apologised. After 13 played minutes Venezuela got a freekick which was hit by Jose Correa. Epigonoi Kouches fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 14th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Jonathan Ferrant having to interfere. After 17 played minutes Venezuela got a freekick which was hit by Patricio Costa. Fernando Redondo hit a great freekick 20 minutes into the match. In the 31st minute of the game Auguste Koenig made a throw-in which Celedonio Omero played forward. Jonathan Ferrant made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Epigonoi Kouches in the 32nd minute of play. The corner led bicho colorado's Celedonio Omero to fire away a dangerous shot which Jonathan Ferrant despite some difficulties managed to get hold on the ball. In the 36th match minute, Venezuela was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Jose Correa to maneuver through the defense. When Diego Rotondi came up free with the goalie in the 37th minute, the bicho colorado 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 Diego Rotondi couldn't finish the play. The supporters of bicho colorado booed when Venezuela was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 40 match minutes in a wonderful position. Tomas Illescas didn't get a good kick on the ball. 42 minutes into the match, Venezuela's goal looked a bit too open when Epigonoi Kouches came free, but Jonathan Ferrant reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. bicho colorado's Auguste Koenig pulled a muscle in his back after 43 minutes and couldn't finish the game. Patricio Costa's late challenge caught a bicho colorado's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Patricio Costa helped the player get up and apologised. After a rather tough play, Venezuela's Patricio Costa got a free kick in the 45th minute. In the 46th minute, Victoriano Modestio hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. 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.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Diego Rotondi made a kick off. Adan Rafel made a fantastic save in the 51st minute, when Tomas Illescas sent off a good shot on target. When the match had gone on for 52 minutes, Tomas Illescas took a quick shot and it went in 0-2 without a chance for Adan Rafel to make any attempt to save it. In the 56th minute Tomas Illescas shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Adan Rafel saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Jonathan Ferrant showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Diego Rotondi in the 57th minute of the match. Venezuela's Jonathan Ferrant played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Epigonoi Kouches in the 63rd minute of play. Jonathan Ferrant showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Diego Rotondi in the 70th minute of the match. Diego Rotondi received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 77th minute. Jonathan Ferrant tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Jonathan Ferrant showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Epigonoi Kouches, who was totally free with the ball in the 78th minute. If Tomas Illescas had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 81st minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. With his leg Adan Rafel managed to avoid a goal in the 84thth minute, when Venezuela's Tomas Illescas fired away a shot with a lot of spin towards his right hand side. If Tomas Illescas had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 86th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. An unexpectedly hard shot by Fernando Redondo in the 94th minute of play forced Venezuela's goalkeeper Jonathan Ferrant to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Venezuela's supporters were very happy and cheered loudly because their team had won after a very close match.