Challenge

Est Rommel Fernández
Spectators: 44 (Terracing: 34, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Arnaldo Firman started the match with the kick off. In the 3rd minute of the match, Isidoro Sarmiento tried to roll the ball into the goal by the right post, but Gaudencio Flor saw his intentions and got control of the ball before it passed the line. After 8 played minutes Panama got a freekick which was hit by Miguel Miralles. Arnaldo Firman scored 0-1 in the 12th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Marcos Cotilla, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. In the 16th minute, Tomas Berganza hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Tomas Berganza fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 23rd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Gaudencio Flor having to interfere. 26 minutes into the match, Miguel Miralles dribbled the ball past the defender and swiftly kicked the ball to the left of Gaudencio Flor, 1-1. After some careless play in the El Tiki-Tiki de Cappa defense, Abraham Alguacil kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Gaudencio Flor. The El Tiki-Tiki de Cappa fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Gaudencio Flor should have stopped the shot. In the 32nd match minute, El Tiki-Tiki de Cappa was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Arnaldo Firman to maneuver through the defense. El Tiki-Tiki de Cappa's Arnaldo Firman got a good chance for a goal in the 34th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. If Isidoro Sarmiento had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 37th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Gaudencio Flor made an important save on a dangerous shot by Isidoro Sarmiento in the 39th minute. 42 minutes into the match, Panama's goal looked a bit too open when Mariano Selmo came free, but Marcos Cotilla reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. 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 2-1.

The wind increased when Tomas Berganza made the kick off in the second half. After a defensive mix-up in El Tiki-Tiki de Cappa's zone, Isidoro Sarmiento stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Gaudencio Flor 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. In the 59th minute Miguel Miralles shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Gaudencio Flor saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. 62 minutes into the match, Panama's Abraham Alguacil sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Gaudencio Flor narrowly saved just below the crossbar. In the 64th minute, Miguel Miralles 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. Abraham Alguacil sent away a hard shot on goal in the 66th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After a defensive mix-up in Panama's zone, Arnaldo Firman stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Marcos Cotilla came out of the goal and Arnaldo Firman tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Casimiro Peyo sent away a hard shot on goal in the 76th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. In the 77th minute, Mariano Selmo ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Marcos Cotilla was frozen by the shot and now it was 2-3. In the 83rd minute, Ariel Cordaro hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Isidoro Sarmiento blasted a shot towards the goal in the 84th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Gaudencio Flor having to make a save. Gaudencio Flor showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Tomas Berganza in the 92nd minute of the match. Bruno Afonso's late challenge caught a Panama's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Bruno Afonso helped the player get up and apologised. In the 94th minute, Bruno Afonso hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. After a defensive mix-up in El Tiki-Tiki de Cappa's zone, Tomas Berganza stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Gaudencio Flor came out of the goal and Tomas Berganza tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Chants of El Tiki-Tiki de Cappa echoed around the stadium as the match drew to a close. Supporters and players were both delighted with the win, as Panama had held the ball for most of the match.