Challenge

ARENA GUARULHOS
Spectators: 40 (Terracing: 31, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Joel Gaona took the kick off in the first half of the match. Carlinhos Freitas made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Joel Gaona in the 4th minute of play. After 5 played minutes AA GUARULHOS got a freekick which was hit by Jacobo Porfirio. Lautaro Mancebo fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 12th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Carlinhos Freitas having to interfere. Mexico's Dante Lacasa played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Karin Benzema in the 13th minute of play. An unexpectedly hard shot by Luca Zorita in the 17th minute of play forced AA GUARULHOS's goalkeeper Carlinhos Freitas to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Mexico were awarded a corner in the 18th minute after AA GUARULHOS's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Joel Gaona took the corner. After taking down the ball on Mexico's corner Luca Rouco fired away a hard shot, but the defenders efficiently covered the most dangerous angles and Carlinhos Freitas quite easily take care of the ball. 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 19th minute. The audience was convinced that Lance Cabezas's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Dante Lacasa was relentless in the 21st minute of the game. After some careless play in the Mexico defense, Lance Cabezas kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Dante Lacasa. The Mexico fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Dante Lacasa should have stopped the shot. In the 25th minute, Lautaro Mancebo 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. In the 29th minute of the match Mexico got a corner. AA GUARULHOS's goalie ran out to the linesman to protest the call, but the linesman resolutely pointed his flag at the cornerflag. Joel Gaona ran over to the corner to take the kick. Mexico's Joel Gaona was first on the ball when the corner was shot and he dangerously headed the ball towards goal, but Carlinhos Freitas in the goal jumped up to prevent it from getting in. A collision led to AA GUARULHOS getting a freekick after 37 minutes play. Erasmo Monteiro hit a great ball. In the 38th match minute, AA GUARULHOS was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Aleksejs Vērīgais to maneuver through the defense. Remigio Finlay sent away a hard shot on goal in the 43rd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. An unexpectedly hard shot by Karin Benzema in the 45th minute of play forced Mexico's goalkeeper Dante Lacasa to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Alberto Tafalla's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Carlinhos Freitas read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 46th minute of play. In the 47th minute Mexico were awarded a corner. Joel Gaona went to the cornerflag to take it. The corner led Mexico's Luca Zorita to fire away a dangerous shot which Carlinhos Freitas despite some difficulties managed to get hold on the ball. When Mexico's Luca Zorita in the 47th minute got a chance for a shot 47th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye AA GUARULHOS's goalie prevented a goal.

After having played for 54 minutes, Alberto Tafalla managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Mexico's supporters crossed their fingers, but Alberto Tafalla was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. In the 63rd minute of the match, Joel Gaona tried to roll the ball into the goal by the right post, but Carlinhos Freitas saw his intentions and got control of the ball before it passed the line. 67 minutes into the match, Mexico's goal looked a bit too open when Remigio Finlay came free, but Dante Lacasa reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. 69 minutes into the match, AA GUARULHOS's goalkeeper Carlinhos Freitas had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Alberto Tafalla. Carlinhos Freitas showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Joel Gaona, who was totally free with the ball in the 74th minute. 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 75th minute. It was a well-played corner which Luca Zorita managed to volley towards the net. Unfortunately, he didn't get a great hit on the ball and it went out into the grandstand. Carlinhos Freitas took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Joel Gaona, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Dante Lacasa came out of the goal in the 80th minute to try and stop a shot by AA GUARULHOS's Karin Benzema. But to his dismay, Karin Benzema quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 2-0. When Alberto Tafalla came up free with the goalie in the 84th 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 Alberto Tafalla couldn't finish the play. In the 85th match minute, Mexico was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Luca Zorita to maneuver through the defense. Dante Lacasa showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Karin Benzema in the 86th minute of the match. In the 89th minute, Joel Gaona made a precise shot to the right of Carlinhos Freitas. AA GUARULHOS's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 2-1. AA GUARULHOS's fans were exulted and cheered after their team won in a match that could easily have gone the other way.