U18 League

Ángel Labruna
Spectators: 159 (Terracing: 120, Seating: 36, VIP seats: 3) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Gabriel Gomez started the match with the kick off. In the 6th minute the ball was on its way in behind La Gallardeta's goalkeeper Marcelo Bikendi, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. Marcelo Bikendi showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Anier Balesio in the 11th minute of the match. Apolo Naelio kicked well hit freekick during the 13th minute of the match. In the 17th minute Paulo Romelio shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Joel Cresenciano saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. The audience was convinced that Ruben Dolfo's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Joel Cresenciano was relentless in the 18th minute of the game. Elvio Estebe hit a great freekick 22 minutes into the match. With an all-out effort, La Gallardeta's Joel Cresenciano threw himself towards the right post 23 minutes into the match and grabbed hold of the ball from Ruben Dolfo, which otherwise would have been placed in the net. Bonifacio Padro lost his temper 27 minutes into the game and shoved another player to the ground. He was immediately shown a red card. In the 27th minute, one of La Gallardeta:s players had the ball in front of the goal but got pushed and fell. The referee felt it was an obvious case and blew a penalty for La Gallardeta. Marcelo Bikendi had in the 29thth minute some difficulties stopping Salvador Peru's well aimed penalty as it nearly passed him on his left side, but he still managed to hold the ball. Paulo Romelio struck a weak shot in the 31st minute. Joel Cresenciano didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for La Gallardeta. Marcelo Bikendi took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Elvio Estebe, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Leonides Pancho sent away a hard shot on goal in the 38th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After a defensive mix-up in La Gallardeta's zone, Elvio Estebe stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Marcelo Bikendi came out of the goal and Elvio Estebe tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. In the 42nd match minute, La Gallardeta was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Apolo Naelio to maneuver through the defense. Danilo Liberto hit a great freekick 43 minutes into the match. Marcelo Bikendi made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Anier Balesio in the 44th minute of play. The first half was very even, with the score at 0-0 when the whistle went for half-time. The players welcomed the break and quickly retired to the dressing rooms.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Paulo Romelio stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Gabriel Gomez in the 51st minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Marcelo Bikendi prevented the ball from getting in the gole. Paulo Romelio sent away a hard shot on goal in the 53rd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. The audience thought a goal was coming when Gabriel Gomez got free with Marcelo Bikendi in the 70th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. An unexpectedly hard shot by Paulo Romelio in the 82nd minute of play forced Resurrección Diabólica Ψ's goalkeeper Joel Cresenciano to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. After some careless play in the Resurrección Diabólica Ψ defense, Paulo Romelio kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Joel Cresenciano. The Resurrección Diabólica Ψ fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Joel Cresenciano should have stopped the shot. Resurrección Diabólica Ψ made a substitution. Fabian Urdaspal replaced Reynaldo Llorenc. 91 minutes into the match, La Gallardeta's Rodolfo Goito sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Joel Cresenciano narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Joel Cresenciano showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Paulo Romelio, who was totally free with the ball in the 94th minute. For all the effort they put into the match, the Resurrección Diabólica Ψ players left disappointed. They had fought hard, but couldn't break down the home team's defense. The match ended in a win for La Gallardeta.