U23 League

Alfredo Di Stéfano
Spectators: 145 (Terracing: 110, Seating: 33, VIP seats: 2) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when Lucio Serapio kicked off to start the match. 3 minutes into the match, Granate's goal looked a bit too open when Humberto Rodas came free, but Jonathan Palmquist reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Robert Kirby fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 5th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Inocencio Astigar having to interfere. After 10 minutes, Robert Kirby made it 0-1 with a short kick to the right side. Bancruz F.C's Inocencio Astigar tried to save the shot but he was too slow in reacting to the shot. The supporters of Bancruz F.C booed when Granate was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 17 match minutes in a wonderful position. Amador Luzea didn't get a good kick on the ball. The audience thought a goal was coming when Timoteo Jaume got free with Jonathan Palmquist in the 18th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Lucio Serapio hit a great freekick 21 minutes into the match. After 22 minutes of play, the referee blew the whistle. It was a penalty for Granate! Jonathan Palmquist had in the 23rdth minute some difficulties stopping Horacio Neron's well aimed penalty as it nearly passed him on his left side, but he still managed to hold the ball. Raimundo Mannuel's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Jonathan Palmquist read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 29th minute of play. Bancruz F.C's attacker deliberately struck the ball against an opponent to win a corner for his team. The corner was taken by Horacio Neron in the 31st minute. After taking down the ball on Bancruz F.C's corner Horacio Neron fired away a hard shot, but the defenders efficiently covered the most dangerous angles and Jonathan Palmquist quite easily take care of the ball. When Raimundo Mannuel came up free with the goalie in the 33rd minute, the Bancruz F.C fans jumped to their feet. But the shot missed the goal by a fraction of an inch, and the fans sat back down disappointed that Raimundo Mannuel couldn't finish the play. The audience was convinced that Bernabe Galtero's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Inocencio Astigar was relentless in the 35th minute of the game. In the 39th minute, Robert Kirby made a precise shot to the right of Inocencio Astigar. Bancruz F.C's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 1-2. Raimundo Mannuel fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 44th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Jonathan Palmquist having to interfere. Disappointed in the 1-2 score, the home team went to the dressing room to adjust tactics for the second half.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Raimundo Mannuel was the one to do the kick off. In the 51st minute Bernabe Galtero shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Inocencio Astigar saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. A collision led to Bancruz F.C getting a freekick after 54 minutes play. Timoteo Jaume hit a great ball. In the 56th minute, Humberto Rodas hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. In the 61st minute Bancruz F.C were awarded a corner. Horacio Neron went to the cornerflag to take it. After taking down the ball on Bancruz F.C's corner Horacio Neron fired away a hard shot, but the defenders efficiently covered the most dangerous angles and Jonathan Palmquist quite easily take care of the ball. After some fancy dribbling in the 63rd minute, Timoteo Jaume managed to get in a good position for a shot. Bancruz F.C's supporters rose to their feet, but Timoteo Jaume was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Jonathan Palmquist breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Jonathan Palmquist took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Nemesio Maiorga, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. An unexpectedly hard shot by Robert Kirby in the 71st minute of play forced Bancruz F.C's goalkeeper Inocencio Astigar to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Bancruz F.C's defense didn't have a chance, in the 79th minute, when Bernabe Galtero scored to the left of an out of position Inocencio Astigar, making the score, 1-3. Nemesio Maiorga sent away a hard shot on goal in the 85th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Granate's Eriberto Olando got his second yellow card of the match in the 92nd minute. The referee ordered Eriberto Olando off the ground. Eriberto Olando hit a great freekick 93 minutes into the match. Raimundo Mannuel fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 94th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Jonathan Palmquist having to interfere. The Granate supporters could be heard counting down the last seconds of the match. They errupted in celebration when the whistle blew, knowing Granate would go home with victory in their luggage after a match that easily could have ended differently.