Challenge

Arturo Umberto Illia
Spectators: 41 (Terracing: 32, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when Joel Gaona kicked off to start the match. Marcos Bela showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Lautaro Mancebo, who was totally free with the ball in the 3rd minute. After 4 minutes Deportivo Pergamino's defender was forced to head the ball over the line for a corner. It was Joel Gaona who took care of the corner kick. Luca Rouco made a great header on Mexico's corner, it was just that Deportivo Pergamino's Marcos Bela managed to reach the ball for a save. Marcos Bela made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Joel Gaona in the 10th minute of play. Remigio Gasteiz charged in rather forcefully in the 13th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Remigio Gasteiz the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. A collision led to Deportivo Pergamino getting a freekick after 13 minutes play. Remigio Gasteiz hit a great ball. If Lautaro Mancebo had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 16th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Ambrosio Taurino kicked well hit freekick during the 18th minute of the match. Facundo Cadaval recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 23rd minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. After some fancy dribbling in the 27th minute, Luca Zorita managed to get in a good position for a shot. Mexico's supporters rose to their feet, but Luca Zorita was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Marcos Bela breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Marcos Bela showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Alberto Tafalla, who was totally free with the ball in the 29th minute. The audience thought a goal was coming when Eduardo Sancho got free with Dante Lacasa in the 34th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Dante Lacasa took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Silvestre Argoitz, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Alberto Tafalla received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 37th minute. Marcos Bela tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. After 40 played minutes Mexico got a freekick which was hit by Luca Zorita. Marcos Bela took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Lautaro Mancebo, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. The fans had the chance to grab some refreshments as the whistle went for half-time. The score stood at 0-0 after a close first half.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Eduardo Sancho stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. An unexpectedly hard shot by Joel Gaona in the 55th minute of play forced Deportivo Pergamino's goalkeeper Marcos Bela to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Mexico's Dante Lacasa played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Ambrosio Taurino in the 58th minute of play. Mexico's Alberto Tafalla got a good chance for a goal in the 60th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. The audience thought a goal was coming when Alberto Tafalla got free with Marcos Bela in the 64th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. After taking down the ball on Mexico's corner Joel Gaona fired away a hard shot, but the defenders efficiently covered the most dangerous angles and Marcos Bela quite easily take care of the ball. Marcos Bela took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Joel Gaona, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 69th match minute, Deportivo Pergamino was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Gaudencio Matro to maneuver through the defense. Deportivo Pergamino's Primitivo Vitin was substituted for Cristobal Tipi. The supporters of Mexico booed when Deportivo Pergamino was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 71 match minutes in a wonderful position. Gaudencio Matro didn't get a good kick on the ball. Deportivo Pergamino's goalkeeper couldn't reach when Joel Gaona 72 minutes into the game got a good kick on the ball which found its way into goal just inside left pole. 0-2. The audience thought a goal was coming when Lautaro Mancebo got free with Marcos Bela in the 75th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. 79 minutes into the game, Mexico's Alberto Tafalla nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Marcos Bela made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 0-3. Lautaro Mancebo fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 83rd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Marcos Bela having to interfere. After 84 played minutes Deportivo Pergamino got a freekick which was hit by Eduardo Sancho. In the 87th minute Alberto Tafalla shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Marcos Bela saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 89th minute, Alberto Tafalla 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 Deportivo Pergamino fans had already started to leave before the final whistle blew. Mexico were clearly better and deserved to take the win.