League

Soccer City
Spectators: 7683 (Terracing: 5763, Seating: 1767, VIP seats: 153) Picantes del Norte's Dráusio Veloso started the match with a crisp pass. The crowd had been anticipating this game for weeks and the excitement in the stadium was easily visible. The audience thought a goal was coming when Gaspar Todor got free with Salih Orus in the 3rd minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. After 4 played minutes Picantes del Norte got a freekick which was hit by Gaspar Todor. After 5 minutes, Eugenio Vermudo mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Central and the Picantes del Norte players grew even worse after the yellow card. After a rather tough play, Central's Eugenio Vermudo got a free kick in the 5th minute. Picantes del Norte were awarded a corner in the 8th minute after Central's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Jairo Pueblo took the corner. Silvestre Loramendi made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Gelu Nicolau in the 10th minute of play. Giovani Lo Celso sent away a hard shot on goal in the 24th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Silvestre Loramendi took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Giovani Lo Celso, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. When Central's Giovani Lo Celso in the 29th minute got a chance for a shot 29th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Picantes del Norte's goalie prevented a goal. In the 30th minute, Gelu Nicolau hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. When the match clock showed 33 minutes, the score became 0-1 when Giovani Lo Celso sped through Picantes del Norte's defense and sent away a curving shot that went into the net to the right of Silvestre Loramendi. Salih Orus didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Zrinko Pavković went, in the 37th minute, to the upper right corner, 1-1 was the resulting score. After 43 played minutes Picantes del Norte got a freekick which was hit by Marshall Pérez. Silvestre Loramendi made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Luisito Quintan in the 44th minute of play. After 45 played minutes Picantes del Norte got a freekick which was hit by Marshall Pérez. Silvestre Loramendi showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Giovani Lo Celso, who was totally free with the ball in the 46th minute. 47 minutes into the match, Picantes del Norte's goal looked a bit too open when Luisito Quintan came free, but Silvestre Loramendi reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Giovani Lo Celso to make the kick off. With a little luck, Picantes del Norte's Silvestre Loramendi got control of the ball when Giovani Lo Celso tried to sneak it across the goal line. When Central's Gelu Nicolau in 56 game minutes managed to cut through with the ball in front of the goal, only having to shoot. Silvestre Loramendi guarding the goal like a pit bull was extremely focused and managed to reach the ball just by the crossbar before it went in. Zrinko Pavković received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 58th minute. Salih Orus tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Salih Orus showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Dráusio Veloso in the 60th minute of the match. The audience was convinced that Dráusio Veloso's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Salih Orus was relentless in the 69th minute of the game. A collision led to Picantes del Norte getting a freekick after 70 minutes play. Marshall Pérez hit a great ball. In the 73rd match minute, Central was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Aurelio Jorrin to maneuver through the defense. Marshall Pérez's late challenge caught a Central's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Marshall Pérez helped the player get up and apologised. Central's Alejo Veliz was substituted for Giovani Lo Celso. The supporters of Central booed when Picantes del Norte was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 79 match minutes in a wonderful position. Marshall Pérez didn't get a good kick on the ball. If Gaspar Todor had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 84th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Alejo Veliz took the ball and in the 86 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Silvestre Loramendi. Silvestre Loramendi dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 1-2. Picantes del Norte made a substitution. Lázaro Chinto replaced Zrinko Pavković. Alejo Velizs short, quick shot in the 93rdth minute got Silvestre Loramendi to make great effort and bar the ball away from getting in. Silvestre Loramendi was in the perfect position, and the defense had done a good job marking him, but Gelu Nicolau showcased his skills and made a perfect shot to score 1-3 in the 94 minute of play. The Central supporters could be heard counting down the last seconds of the match. They errupted in celebration when the whistle blew, knowing Central would go home with victory in their luggage after a match that easily could have ended differently.