Challenge

Defensores del Chaco
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. Jaime Pardo started the match with the kick off. If Ignacy Opalinski had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 2nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Jaime Pardo sent away a hard shot on goal in the 6th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. In the 8th minute, Ignacy Opalinski 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 New England Minas fans' excitement grew in the 10th match minute when New England Minas's Ignacy Opalinski looked to have a clear shot with the ball near the goal. The shot wasn't hard, but the ball still rolled over the goal line to make it 0-1 before the goalkeeper had a chance to intervene. Ruben Ellison hit a great freekick 12 minutes into the match. A sloppy throw-in by Terrence McAllister in the 16th minute of the game went astray and was snapped up by Paraguay's Hector Covarrubias. In the 17th minute, Nathan Whitaker hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Hector Covarrubias struck a weak shot in the 26th minute. Brett Ladd didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Paraguay. After having played for 29 minutes, Ignacy Opalinski managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. New England Minas's supporters crossed their fingers, but Ignacy Opalinski was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. In the 35th minute, Ignacy Opalinski ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Jacobo Nores was frozen by the shot and now it was 1-2. 39 minutes into the match, Nikitas Papaiakovou notched a goal, 1-3, to the right of Paraguay's Jacobo Nores. Jacobo Nores was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. Brett Ladd made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Hector Covarrubias in the 44th minute of play. In the 46th minute, Hector Covarrubias hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. After the first half New England Minas were leading 1-3. They had played with great self confidence throughout the first half and fully deserved their lead.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Ignacy Opalinski to make the kick off. After having played for 52 minutes, Hector Covarrubias managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Paraguay's supporters crossed their fingers, but Hector Covarrubias was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Jacobo Nores took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Ignacy Opalinski, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. The audience thought a goal was coming when Ignacy Opalinski got free with Jacobo Nores in the 59th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Jacobo Nores made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Ignacy Opalinski in the 60th minute of play. Nikitas Papaiakovou recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 68th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. In the 69th minute, Hector Covarrubias hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Hector Covarrubias hit a great freekick 72 minutes into the match. When Ruben Ellison fell near the penalty area in the 77th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored New England Minas's protests and gave Ruben Ellison a yellow card for diving instead. A collision led to New England Minas getting a freekick after 77 minutes play. Ruben Ellison hit a great ball. 79 minutes into the match, New England Minas's Nikitas Papaiakovou sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Jacobo Nores narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Paraguay's goalkeeper couldn't reach when Nikitas Papaiakovou 84 minutes into the game got a good kick on the ball which found its way into goal just inside left pole. 1-5. After a rather tough play, Paraguay's Primitivo Escribano got a free kick in the 87th minute. Paraguay's Jaime Pardo got a good chance for a goal in the 94th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Jacobo Nores made a fantastic save in the 96th minute, when Ignacy Opalinski sent off a good shot on target. After 97 minutes Paraguay's defender was forced to head the ball over the line for a corner. It was Son Santiago who took care of the corner kick. A nice corner shot did that Son Santiago got away a dangerous shot. Despite this Jacobo Nores quite easily got ahold of the ball to make the save. When the referee blew the final whistle jeers and boos were heard from the home team's supporters. They were angered to see Paraguay lose a match they had controlled from the kick-off.