Challenge

Libertadores x7
Spectators: 50 (Terracing: 38, Seating: 11, VIP seats: 1) C. A. Independiente's Steve Sharp 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. A collision led to Venezuela getting a freekick after 5 minutes play. Jonathan Venegas hit a great ball. Jonathan Ferrant took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Ferdinand Bauer, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. After 14 minutes of play, Venezuela's Tomas Illescas made it 0-1 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Cristobal Fox was left in no man's land by his defense there! If Ferdinand Bauer had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 26th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After some careless play in the Venezuela defense, Ferdinand Bauer kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Jonathan Ferrant. The Venezuela fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Jonathan Ferrant should have stopped the shot. Tomas Illescas struck a weak shot in the 35th minute. Cristobal Fox didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Venezuela. Gerry Gipson charged in rather forcefully in the 40th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Gerry Gipson the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. A collision led to C. A. Independiente getting a freekick after 40 minutes play. Gerry Gipson hit a great ball. Tomas Illescas sent away a hard shot on goal in the 41st minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Tomas Illescas hit a great freekick 41 minutes into the match. Cristobal Fox showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Patricio Costa in the 48th minute of the match. The first half was very even, with the score at 1-1 when the whistle went for half-time. The players welcomed the break and quickly retired to the dressing rooms.

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. C. A. Independiente's defense didn't have a chance, in the 57th minute, when Patricio Costa scored to the left of an out of position Cristobal Fox, making the score, 1-2. After 62 played minutes C. A. Independiente got a freekick which was hit by Gerry Gipson. C. A. Independiente's defense didn't have a chance, in the 65th minute, when Tomas Illescas scored to the left of an out of position Cristobal Fox, making the score, 1-3. After 69 minutes of play C. A. Independiente's Gerry Gipson was too eager in his attempt to stop his opponent and brought him down. With that he got his second yellow card and was ordered off the ground. After a rather tough play, C. A. Independiente's Gerry Gipson got a free kick in the 70th minute. C. A. Independiente's Cristobal Fox proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 72nd minute of the match, managed to save C. A. Independiente from getting a goal against them. When Steve Sharp fell near the penalty area in the 74th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored C. A. Independiente's protests and gave Steve Sharp a yellow card for diving instead. The supporters of Venezuela booed when C. A. Independiente was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 74 match minutes in a wonderful position. Steve Sharp didn't get a good kick on the ball. Tomas Illescas who was well placed in front of the goal fired away a dangerous shot that in the 84thth minute tested the skills of Cristobal Fox when he managed to save the team from getting behind. Tomas Illescas could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 88th minute of the match, but Cristobal Fox made a huge save. When the final whistle sounded Venezuela left the ground with the victory after a much better performance than C. A. Independiente.