Challenge

La Bombonera
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. Simon Salbatore started the match with the kick off. After a defensive mix-up in Boca Juniors's zone, Tomas Illescas stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Evaristo Pena 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. In the 9th minute, Mitch Meersmans hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Jonathan Ferrant made a fantastic save in the 16th minute, when Severiano Mann sent off a good shot on target. Ramon Urtats was in a good position and managed to take a shot, but he missed just to the outside of the post. In the 23rd minute, Simon Salbatore reached a very good position and smashed the ball with a huge effort into the net, just to the left of Jonathan Ferrant. The goal made the score 1-0. The supporters of Venezuela booed when Boca Juniors was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 25 match minutes in a wonderful position. Mitch Meersmans didn't get a good kick on the ball. Simon Salbatore's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Jonathan Ferrant read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 30th minute of play. Boca Juniors's attentive Severiano Mann managed to snatch the ball when Guillermo Mariano made a throw-in in the 31st minute of the game. It seemed to be an obvious goal in the 40th minute, but Jonathan Ferrant got his fingers on the ball or the save, leaving Venezuela hanging dry this time. It seemed to be an obvious goal in the 42nd minute, but Jonathan Ferrant got his fingers on the ball or the save, leaving Venezuela hanging dry this time. When the referee blew for the end of the half the home team players were clearly happier, as they went in to the break leading 1-0.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Tomas Illescas made a kick off. Jonathan Ferrant made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Simon Salbatore in the 52nd minute of play. 57 minutes into the game, Simon Salbatore cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 2-0. Jonathan Ferrant was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. Boca Juniors's Ramon Urtats quite brazenly broke a throw-in by Guillermo Mariano, made in the 62nd minute of the game. In the 63rd match minute, Boca Juniors was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Jorge Harriet to maneuver through the defense. Jonathan Ferrant took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Simon Salbatore, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. A collision led to Boca Juniors getting a freekick after 67 minutes play. Valdemar Oliveira hit a great ball. Guillermo Mariano took a chance and fired a shot far from the goal in the 70th minute, but it turned out to be a dangerous situation for Evaristo Pena. Boca Juniors's goalkeeper really had to stretch himself to stop the ball from crossing the goal line. Simon Salbatore's late challenge caught a Venezuela's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Simon Salbatore helped the player get up and apologised. After a rather tough play, Boca Juniors's Simon Salbatore got a free kick in the 71st minute. Tomas Illescas fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 77th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Evaristo Pena having to interfere. In the 79th minute, Tomas Illescas 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. The throw-in from Nicasio Su in the 81st minute of the game was unfortunally taken care of by Venezuela's Jose Correa. In the 92nd match minute, Boca Juniors was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Valdemar Oliveira to maneuver through the defense. The referee blew the whistle for a penalty in the 96th minute of the game. One of Boca Juniors:s players had nearly got his shirt torn off by an opponent while getting free in front of Venezuela:s goal. Evaristo Pena went to the wrong direction when Tomas Illescas was taking care of the penalty kick which however missed the goal. A collision led to Boca Juniors getting a freekick after 98 minutes play. Mitch Meersmans hit a great ball. Venezuela's players left the field with heads hung low after losing a match that had been finely balanced throughout.