Challenge

C.V. Spartan Stadium
Spectators: 44 (Terracing: 34, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) Joel Gaona started the match with the kick off in front of an excited audience. In the 4th minute, Andrew Borgers hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. When Joel Gaona came up free with the goalie in the 5th minute, the Mexico 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 Joel Gaona couldn't finish the play. S.D. Bajen's Spencer Holder played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Joel Gaona in the 7th minute of play. S.D. Bajen's Petrigai Solanos managed, thanks to a brazen rush, stole the ball on a throw-in made by Felix Luque in the 8 minute of the game. In the 14th minute Lautaro Mancebo shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Spencer Holder saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. An unexpectedly hard shot by Joel Gaona in the 15th minute of play forced S.D. Bajen's goalkeeper Spencer Holder to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 17th 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. Leonardo Leoz got a throw-in 20 minutes in the game and the ball was received by Lautaro Mancebo. 21 minutes into the match, S.D. Bajen's goal looked a bit too open when Alberto Tafalla came free, but Spencer Holder reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Spencer Holder took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Alberto Tafalla, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. If Lautaro Mancebo had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 25th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Spencer Holder showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Luca Zorita, who was totally free with the ball in the 27th minute. 29 minutes into the match, Lautaro Mancebo had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Spencer Holder. S.D. Bajen's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Lautaro Mancebo was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 0-1. Kacper Wasikowski might have been able to make a better finish in the 32nd minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Dante Lacasa. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Kacper Wasikowski ran back to his position shaking his head. Lincoln Hand sent away a hard shot on goal in the 33rd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. 38 minutes into the match, S.D. Bajen's goal looked a bit too open when Joel Gaona came free, but Spencer Holder reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. A collision led to S.D. Bajen getting a freekick after 45 minutes play. Aldo Marquez hit a great ball. Even after changing tactics the home team jogged off the field with a 0-2 deficit. They would have to work harder if they wanted to turn things around in the second half.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Lincoln Hand to make the kick off. Alberto Tafalla sent away a hard shot on goal in the 52nd minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. Alberto Tafalla could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 52nd minute of the match, but Spencer Holder made a huge save. João Rodrigo received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 56th minute. Dante Lacasa tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Mexico's Alberto Tafalla got a good chance for a goal in the 62nd minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. S.D. Bajen's Korey Benedict was substituted for João Rodrigo. After 70 played minutes S.D. Bajen got a freekick which was hit by Andrew Borgers. Lautaro Mancebo received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 71st minute. Spencer Holder tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. In the 72nd match minute, Mexico was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Facundo Cadaval to maneuver through the defense. Lincoln Hand received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 73rd minute. Dante Lacasa tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. A well-hit corner resulted in Macos Graciani heading the ball towards the goal, but to his dismay he misdirected it and missed the goal completely. After 80 minutes of play, S.D. Bajen's Lincoln Hand made it 1-2 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Dante Lacasa was left in no man's land by his defense there! S.D. Bajen's Sam Malone was substituted for Kacper Wasikowski. In the 85th minute Lincoln Hand 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. Petrigai Solanos was astounded when the referee showed him the red card after a seemingly innocent challenge, 90 minutes into the match. After 90 minutes of play, the referee blew the whistle. It was a penalty for S.D. Bajen! In the 95th minute, Alberto Tafalla hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Joel Gaona sent away a hard shot on goal in the 96th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Mexico's players went to the stands to thank the travelling support. The fan's backing had helped spurr the team on to a fine performance that won them the match.