Challenge

Ali Sami Yen
Spectators: 41 (Terracing: 32, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Ahmet Nedim Ertaş started the match with the kick off. In the 3rd minute, Valar morghulis's Gökay Ömür dribbled the ball into the box and hit a shot with the outside of his foot, sending the keeper the wrong way. 1-0. Aşır Koç charged in rather forcefully in the 5th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Aşır Koç the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. In the 5th minute, Aşır Koç hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Blanco Dueñas took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Lautaro Mancebo, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Gökay Ömür recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 11th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Blanco Dueñas made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Lautaro Mancebo in the 12th minute of play. Dante Lacasa showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Ahmet Nedim Ertaş, who was totally free with the ball in the 16th minute. Blanco Dueñas took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Lautaro Mancebo, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. 28 minutes into the game, Joel Gaona cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 1-2. Blanco Dueñas was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. Dante Lacasa took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Ahmet Nedim Ertaş, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. İsa Fındık sent away a hard shot on goal in the 40th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. 45 minutes into the match, Joel Gaona notched a goal, 1-3, to the right of Valar morghulis's Blanco Dueñas. Blanco Dueñas was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. After the first half Mexico were leading 1-3. They had played with great self confidence throughout the first half and fully deserved their lead.

The wind increased when Joel Gaona made the kick off in the second half. After 50 played minutes Valar morghulis got a freekick which was hit by Gökay Ömür. After a defensive mix-up in Valar morghulis's zone, Joel Gaona stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Blanco Dueñas came out of the goal and Joel Gaona tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Lautaro Mancebo's shot straight on target was not completely harmless. The ball had pretty good speed, but Blanco Dueñas firmly grabbed it by the left post. Dante Lacasa showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Gökay Ömür in the 60th minute of the match. Valar morghulis's Blanco Dueñas proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 62nd minute of the match, managed to save Valar morghulis from getting a goal against them. Gökay Ömür's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Dante Lacasa read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 65th minute of play. Blanco Dueñas stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Joel Gaona's shot from short distance in the 69th minute. 70 minutes into the match, Mexico's Alberto Tafalla sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Blanco Dueñas narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Dante Lacasa made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Ahmet Nedim Ertaş in the 73rd minute of play. In the 76th minute, Lorenzo Cazalla 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. If Lautaro Mancebo had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 81st minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. 88 minutes into the match, Joel Gaona had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Blanco Dueñas. Valar morghulis's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Joel Gaona was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 1-4. Joel Gaona sent away a hard shot on goal in the 91st minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. In the 93rd minute, Alberto Tafalla hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Mexico's supporters were very happy and cheered loudly because their team had won after a very close match.