Challenge

Jose Angel Zuazaga
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. Tomas Berganza started the match with the kick off. Miguel Miralles received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 5th minute. Cristian Eduino tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Cristian Eduino took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Isidoro Sarmiento, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. 7 minutes into the game, Isidoro Sarmiento cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 0-1. Cristian Eduino was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. In the 22nd minute, Abraham Alguacil got an opportunity to score, but he didn't get a solid hit on the ball and ended up kicking it wide of the goal. In the 24th minute, Aaron Barrios hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Fausto Fernanco might have been able to make a better finish in the 24th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Marcos Cotilla. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Fausto Fernanco ran back to his position shaking his head. Panama's Abraham Alguacil got a good chance for a goal in the 26th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Marcos Cotilla took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Victorio Quiroga, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. After a defensive mix-up in Mercado Paulista F.C's zone, Abraham Alguacil stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Cristian Eduino came out of the goal and Abraham Alguacil tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Cristian Eduino made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Tomas Berganza in the 34th minute of play. Cristian Eduino didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Tomas Berganza went, in the 37th minute, to the upper right corner, 0-3 was the resulting score. Alex Cambeiro sent away a hard shot on goal in the 40th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. The supporters of Mercado Paulista F.C booed when Panama was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 41 match minutes in a wonderful position. Isidoro Sarmiento didn't get a good kick on the ball. After some fancy dribbling in the 44th minute, Tomas Berganza managed to get in a good position for a shot. Panama's supporters rose to their feet, but Tomas Berganza was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Cristian Eduino breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. 45 minutes into the match, Tomas Berganza notched a goal, 0-4, to the right of Mercado Paulista F.C's Cristian Eduino. Cristian Eduino was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. Even after changing tactics the home team jogged off the field with a 0-4 deficit. They would have to work harder if they wanted to turn things around in the second half.

The wind increased when Victorio Quiroga made the kick off in the second half. Cristian Eduino stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Tomas Berganza's shot from short distance in the 51st minute. 0-5 became the score in the 52nd minute when Alex Cambeiro elegantly shot the ball into goal just under the crossbar. After a defensive mix-up in Mercado Paulista F.C's zone, Miguel Miralles stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Cristian Eduino came out of the goal and Miguel Miralles tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. After 57 played minutes Mercado Paulista F.C got a freekick which was hit by Sergio Burni. Aaron Barrios hit a great freekick 61 minutes into the match. 63 minutes into the match, Mercado Paulista F.C's goal looked a bit too open when Tomas Berganza came free, but Cristian Eduino reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Bishen Cana charged in rather forcefully in the 64th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Bishen Cana the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. In the 65th minute, Abraham Alguacil fired a really elegant long shot, but Cristian Eduino threw himself and managed to get hold of the ball just in front of the right post. Felipe Ros might have been able to make a better finish in the 71st minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Cristian Eduino. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Felipe Ros ran back to his position shaking his head. When Tomas Berganza came up free with the goalie in the 74th minute, the Panama 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 Berganza couldn't finish the play. After 75 minutes, Miguel Miralles made it 0-6 with a short kick to the right side. Mercado Paulista F.C's Cristian Eduino tried to save the shot but he was too slow in reacting to the shot. Isidoro Sarmiento struck a weak shot in the 80th minute. Cristian Eduino didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Panama. After 86 played minutes Panama got a freekick which was hit by Abraham Alguacil. After a defensive mix-up in Mercado Paulista F.C's zone, Isidoro Sarmiento stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Cristian Eduino came out of the goal and Isidoro Sarmiento tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Fausto Fernanco took a chance and fired a shot far from the goal in the 95th minute, but it turned out to be a dangerous situation for Marcos Cotilla. Panama's goalkeeper really had to stretch himself to stop the ball from crossing the goal line. When the match was over Panama could go home with a victory in their luggage, having controlled the game far better than Mercado Paulista F.C throughout the match.