Challenge

Estadio Nacional
Spectators: 47 (Terracing: 36, Seating: 11, VIP seats: 0) Merlin Castro started the match with the kick off in front of an excited audience. Khachatryan's defense didn't have a chance, in the 9th minute, when Mariano Lacasa scored to the left of an out of position Jermaine Richmond, making the score, 1-0. Thiago Pliego showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Merlin Castro in the 12th minute of the match. 13 minutes had been played when some careless play by Chile's defense caused the ball to cross the line for a corner. Merlin Castro was slow to take the kick. During this time Khachatryan's players had a chance to rest. The corner ended in Merlin Castro almost managing to get the ball behind the net, but Chile's Thiago Pliego did a great save. In the 24th minute, Orlando Casaus reached a very good position and smashed the ball with a huge effort into the net, just to the left of Jermaine Richmond. The goal made the score 2-0. Mariano Lacasa took the ball and in the 29 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Jermaine Richmond. Jermaine Richmond dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 3-0. 33 minutes into the match, Khachatryan's goalkeeper Jermaine Richmond had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Mariano Lacasa. An unexpectedly hard shot by Merlin Castro in the 34th minute of play forced Chile's goalkeeper Thiago Pliego to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Merlin Castro in the 36th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Thiago Pliego prevented the ball from getting in the gole. A collision led to Khachatryan getting a freekick after 40 minutes play. Petros Oganesyan hit a great ball. In the 40th match minute, Chile was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Alan Tamayo to maneuver through the defense. Af the end of the first half the score was 3-0. The first half had gone as expected for the home team.

Jermaine Richmond made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Mariano Lacasa in the 52nd minute of play. Sung McKinley sent away a hard shot on goal in the 54th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Merlin Castro received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 59th minute. Thiago Pliego tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. 60 minutes into the match, Khachatryan's goal looked a bit too open when Mariano Lacasa came free, but Jermaine Richmond reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. 64 minutes into the game, Merlin Castro recieved a splendid long ball, split the defenders, and gently placed the ball to the left of Thiago Pliego. Merlin Castro showed that you don't have to tear a hole in the net to score, 3-1. When Cesar Holland fell near the penalty area in the 66th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Khachatryan's protests and gave Cesar Holland a yellow card for diving instead. A collision led to Khachatryan getting a freekick after 66 minutes play. Cesar Holland hit a great ball. Mariano Lacasa's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Jermaine Richmond read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 67th minute of play. Merlin Castro's shot straight on target was not completely harmless. The ball had pretty good speed, but Thiago Pliego firmly grabbed it by the left post. Merlin Castro's shot when he came free in front of the goal in the 74thth minute, Thiago Pliego skillfully showed off with a save to what seemed to be an obvious goal. Thiago Pliego made an important save on a dangerous shot by Merlin Castro in the 75th minute. An unexpectedly hard shot by Jon Yost in the 78th minute of play forced Chile's goalkeeper Thiago Pliego to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 79th minute Jon Yost shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Thiago Pliego saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Mariano Lacasa blasted a shot towards the goal in the 81st minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Jermaine Richmond having to make a save. After some careless play in the Khachatryan defense, Orlando Casaus kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Jermaine Richmond. The Khachatryan fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Jermaine Richmond should have stopped the shot. After 85 minutes of play, Chile's Mariano Lacasa made it 5-1 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Jermaine Richmond was left in no man's land by his defense there! Merlin Castro who was well placed in front of the goal fired away a dangerous shot that in the 89thth minute tested the skills of Thiago Pliego when he managed to save the team from getting behind. An unexpectedly hard shot by Mariano Lacasa in the 93rd minute of play forced Khachatryan's goalkeeper Jermaine Richmond to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. A collision led to Chile getting a freekick after 94 minutes play. Gerardo Pozo hit a great ball. Thiago Pliego made a fantastic save in the 96th minute, when Merlin Castro sent off a good shot on target. The crowd rose to their feet and cheered when the referee blew the final whistle. Chile had won after a very even match.