Challenge

Tal-Palestina
Spectators: 45 (Terracing: 35, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Peter Paul Dingli took the kick off in the first half of the match. After 4 played minutes Venezuela got a freekick which was hit by Patricio Costa. Venezuela's attacker deliberately struck the ball against an opponent to win a corner for his team. The corner was taken by Tomas Illescas in the 10th minute. The corner first didn't look so dangerous but when Salvador Gisbert got the ball he succeeded in some way to get through the defenders to deliver a very hard score. Result 0-1. 10 minutes into the match. If Tomas Illescas had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 13th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. Venezuela's Jonathan Ferrant proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 15th minute of the match, managed to save Venezuela from getting a goal against them. The supporters of VALLETTA WHITE STARS booed when Venezuela was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 19 match minutes in a wonderful position. Camilo Gaos didn't get a good kick on the ball. Godwin Cohen, 20 minutes into the match, dribbled the ball up the side of the field and decided to take a long shot at the goal. Unfortunately, the ball was poorly hit and landed closer to the corner than to the goal. Anton Gafà sent away a hard shot on goal in the 22nd minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. Jonathan Ferrant came out of the goal in the 23rd minute to try and stop a shot by VALLETTA WHITE STARS's Peter Paul Dingli. But to his dismay, Peter Paul Dingli quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 1-1. If Patricio Costa had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 29th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After 31 played minutes VALLETTA WHITE STARS got a freekick which was hit by Aaron Testaferrata. After some fancy dribbling in the 35th minute, Tomas Illescas managed to get in a good position for a shot. Venezuela's supporters rose to their feet, but Tomas Illescas was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Luca Tedesco breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. In the 39th match minute, VALLETTA WHITE STARS was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Aaron Testaferrata to maneuver through the defense. In the 41st minute the ball was on its way in behind VALLETTA WHITE STARS's goalkeeper Luca Tedesco, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. 42 minutes into the match, Venezuela's goalkeeper Jonathan Ferrant had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Peter Paul Dingli. In the 42nd match minute, Venezuela was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Jose Correa to maneuver through the defense. Venezuela's Jonathan Ferrant played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Peter Paul Dingli in the 45th minute of play. In the 47th minute of the match VALLETTA WHITE STARS got a corner. Venezuela's goalie ran out to the linesman to protest the call, but the linesman resolutely pointed his flag at the cornerflag. Godwin Cohen ran over to the corner to take the kick. Camilo Gaos tried in the game's 47th match minute to clear up in front of his own goal but it went so bad that he put the ball into the goal to the left of an unhappy Jonathan Ferrant. An annoying self made goal, 2-1. All the noise was coming from the home fans when the whistle went for half-time. The home team had fought hardest to put themselves in a deserved 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. The audience was convinced that Tomas Illescas's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Luca Tedesco was relentless in the 53rd minute of the game. An unexpectedly hard shot by Edward Camilleri 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. After a defensive mix-up in VALLETTA WHITE STARS's zone, Tomas Illescas stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Luca Tedesco 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. After 60 minutes of play VALLETTA WHITE STARS's Aaron Testaferrata 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. 63 minutes into the match, Venezuela's goal looked a bit too open when Peter Paul Dingli came free, but Jonathan Ferrant reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. VALLETTA WHITE STARS's Luca Tedesco proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 65th minute of the match, managed to save VALLETTA WHITE STARS from getting a goal against them. The supporters of VALLETTA WHITE STARS booed when Venezuela was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 66 match minutes in a wonderful position. Jose Correa didn't get a good kick on the ball. VALLETTA WHITE STARS's goalkeeper couldn't reach when Patricio Costa 69 minutes into the game got a good kick on the ball which found its way into goal just inside left pole. 2-2. Jonathan Ferrant made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Peter Paul Dingli in the 74th minute of play. Luca Tedesco took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Patricio Costa, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. After 83 played minutes Venezuela got a freekick which was hit by Jose Correa. Godwin Cohen took a chance and fired a shot far from the goal in the 84th minute, but it turned out to be a dangerous situation for Jonathan Ferrant. Venezuela's goalkeeper really had to stretch himself to stop the ball from crossing the goal line. VALLETTA WHITE STARS's defense didn't have a chance, in the 87th minute, when Patricio Costa scored to the left of an out of position Luca Tedesco, making the score, 2-3. VALLETTA WHITE STARS's Leonard Genovese was substituted for Anton Gafà. Jonathan Venegas kicked well hit freekick during the 95th minute of the match. The referee blew the final whistle, and the away crowd roared, having watched Venezuela eke out a victory against a very well matched opponent.