Challenge

Monumental R. Mejia
Spectators: 40 (Terracing: 31, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) The mood of the audience was pleasant when Joel Gaona made the kick off which started today's match. Dante Lacasa showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Angelo Grabiel, who was totally free with the ball in the 5th minute. With an all-out effort, River de Ramos Mejía's Dante Lacasa threw himself towards the right post 5 minutes into the match and grabbed hold of the ball from Angelo Grabiel, which otherwise would have been placed in the net. Mexico's Alberto Tafalla got a good chance for a goal in the 6th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. In the 7th minute Alejo Maties shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Dante Lacasa saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. When the match had gone on for 16 minutes, Alejo Maties took a quick shot and it went in 1-1 without a chance for Dante Lacasa to make any attempt to save it. In the 19th minute Angelo Grabiel shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Dante Lacasa saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 21st minute the ball was on its way in behind River de Ramos Mejía's goalkeeper Eleuterio Maureo, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. Eleuterio Maureo made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Alberto Tafalla in the 23rd minute of play. With a little luck, Mexico's Dante Lacasa got control of the ball when Alejo Maties tried to sneak it across the goal line. In the 30th minute Luca Zorita shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Eleuterio Maureo saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Dante Lacasa made a fantastic save in the 32nd minute, when Elliott Falcão sent off a good shot on target. 37 minutes had been played when some careless play by Mexico's defense caused the ball to cross the line for a corner. Celestino Eli was slow to take the kick. During this time River de Ramos Mejía's players had a chance to rest. Mexico's Dante Lacasa proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 39th minute of the match, managed to save Mexico from getting a goal against them. Eleuterio Maureo made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Lautaro Mancebo in the 43rd minute of play. When the match had gone on for 43 minutes, Lautaro Mancebo put it in 1-2 from a short distance just to the right of Eleuterio Maureo. After a rather tough play, Mexico's Lorenzo Cazalla got a free kick in the 45th minute. Disappointed in the 1-2 score, the home team went to the dressing room to adjust tactics for the second half.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Angelo Grabiel made a kick off. River de Ramos Mejía's Eleuterio Maureo played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Joel Gaona in the 57th minute of play. Eleuterio Maureo took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Joel Gaona, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. River de Ramos Mejía's defense didn't have a chance, in the 57th minute, when Joel Gaona scored to the left of an out of position Eleuterio Maureo, making the score, 1-3. Alberto Tafalla received a nice pass, split the defenders, and ran untouched towards the goal. Eleuterio Maureo came out and tried to block the shot, but Alberto Tafalla slotted it home off the left post making it 1-4 in the 60th minute. River de Ramos Mejía's Mathijs Van Herendael was substituted for Mădălin Holban. Alberto Tafalla might have been able to make a better finish in the 76th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Eleuterio Maureo. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Alberto Tafalla ran back to his position shaking his head. Mexico's attacker deliberately struck the ball against an opponent to win a corner for his team. The corner was taken by Joel Gaona in the 78th minute. With a little luck, River de Ramos Mejía's Eleuterio Maureo got control of the ball when Lautaro Mancebo tried to sneak it across the goal line. Lautaro Mancebo fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 85th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Eleuterio Maureo having to interfere. 89 minutes into the match, Mexico's goal looked a bit too open when Alejo Maties came free, but Dante Lacasa reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Dante Lacasa made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Alejo Maties in the 91st minute of play. When the match was over Mexico could go home with a victory in their luggage, having controlled the game far better than River de Ramos Mejía throughout the match.