Challenge

The Bridge
Spectators: 44 (Terracing: 34, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Alberto Alfaro took the kick off in the first half of the match. 3 minutes into the game, Alberto Alfaro cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 1-0. Jacobo Nores was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. Hector Covarrubias 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. 9 minutes into the game, Javier Herrera cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 2-0. Jacobo Nores was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. In the 11th minute Javier Herrera shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Jacobo Nores saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. 16 minutes into the game, Franklin Ramos was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. The Blues FC's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Paraguay the free kick. If Jaime Pardo had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 18th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Hector Covarrubias fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 22nd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Rolando Quintero having to interfere. Rolando Quintero showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Jaime Pardo, who was totally free with the ball in the 25th minute. Raul Venegas charged in rather forcefully in the 28th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Raul Venegas the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. The supporters of The Blues FC booed when Paraguay was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 28 match minutes in a wonderful position. Raul Venegas didn't get a good kick on the ball. Paraguay's attacker deliberately struck the ball against an opponent to win a corner for his team. The corner was taken by Jaime Pardo in the 34th minute. The corner ended in Jaime Pardo almost managing to get the ball behind the net, but The Blues FC's Rolando Quintero did a great save. Hector Covarrubias might have been able to make a better finish in the 35th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Rolando Quintero. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Hector Covarrubias ran back to his position shaking his head. Paraguay's Jacobo Nores proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 36th minute of the match, managed to save Paraguay from getting a goal against them. If Manuel Ramírez had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 41st minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 45thth minute of the game Jaime Pardo who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but The Blues FC's Rolando Quintero was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. No-one was surprised that the home team were leading 2-0 at half-time.

Paraguay's Primitivo Escribano got a good chance for a goal in the 52nd minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. 54 minutes into the match, The Blues FC's goal looked a bit too open when Jaime Pardo came free, but Rolando Quintero reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After some fancy dribbling in the 56th minute, Jaime Pardo managed to get in a good position for a shot. Paraguay's supporters rose to their feet, but Jaime Pardo was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Rolando Quintero breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Jaime Pardo sent away a hard shot on goal in the 59th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. 65 minutes into the game, Gustavo Castro was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. The Blues FC's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Paraguay the free kick. The supporters of Paraguay booed when The Blues FC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 65 match minutes in a wonderful position. Gustavo Castro didn't get a good kick on the ball. The audience thought a goal was coming when Jaime Pardo got free with Rolando Quintero in the 68th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Jacobo Nores showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Manuel Ramírez in the 69th minute of the match. Hector Covarrubias received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 73rd minute. Rolando Quintero tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. If Alberto Alfaro had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 77th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. If Alan Campos had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 80th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Rolando Quintero didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Jaime Pardo went, in the 84th minute, to the upper right corner, 2-1 was the resulting score. In the 89th minute, Jaime Pardo 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. After having played for 95 minutes, Javier Herrera managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. The Blues FC's supporters crossed their fingers, but Javier Herrera was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Paraguay's supporters were dissatisfied at the end of the match because The Blues FC had won, even though Paraguay had held more of the ball.