Challenge

Pildesti Arena
Spectators: 43 (Terracing: 33, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Zygmunt Dunajski started the match with the kick off. In the 3rd minute Nicolae Barbu 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 7th minute the ball was on its way in behind FC Steaua Pildesti's goalkeeper Marian Văduvescu, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. In the 12th minute, Lucian Stere left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The FC Steaua Pildesti fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 1-0. The supporters of Mexico booed when FC Steaua Pildesti was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 17 match minutes in a wonderful position. Robert Antohi didn't get a good kick on the ball. After having played for 18 minutes, Luca Zorita managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Mexico's supporters crossed their fingers, but Luca Zorita was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Luca Zorita fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 20th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Marian Văduvescu having to interfere. After some careless play in the FC Steaua Pildesti defense, Joel Gaona kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Marian Văduvescu. The FC Steaua Pildesti fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Marian Văduvescu should have stopped the shot. Marian Văduvescu took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Alberto Tafalla, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. An unexpectedly hard shot by Lautaro Mancebo in the 32nd minute of play forced FC Steaua Pildesti's goalkeeper Marian Văduvescu to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Marian Văduvescu showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Alberto Tafalla in the 37th minute of the match. A collision led to FC Steaua Pildesti getting a freekick after 41 minutes play. Constantin Deșliu hit a great ball. Marian Văduvescu 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 45th minute. After a very even first half the match was still tied. The players went to their respective dressing rooms to discuss the tactics for the second half.

Marian Văduvescu made an important save on a dangerous shot by Facundo Cadaval in the 55th minute. Alberto Tafalla received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 58th minute. Marian Văduvescu tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Marian Văduvescu showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Joel Gaona in the 60th minute of the match. The audience thought a goal was coming when Lautaro Mancebo got free with Marian Văduvescu in the 61st minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. In the 61st minute, Mexico's Lautaro Mancebo ran free of his marker and smoothly shot the ball into the goal behind Marian Văduvescu. Marian Văduvescu yelled at his defense, as they had left him out to dry. 1-2. 66 minutes into the match, FC Steaua Pildesti's goalkeeper Marian Văduvescu had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Lautaro Mancebo. Marian Văduvescu made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Luca Zorita in the 71st minute of play. An unexpectedly hard shot by Filip Paulescu in the 73rd minute of play forced Mexico's goalkeeper Dante Lacasa to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. If Alberto Tafalla had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 74th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Alberto Tafalla recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 76th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. FC Steaua Pildesti's Marian Văduvescu played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Joel Gaona in the 81st minute of play. Lautaro Mancebo fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 82nd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Marian Văduvescu having to interfere. Marian Văduvescu 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 87th minute. If Nicolae Barbu had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 89th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Dante Lacasa stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Nicolae Barbu's shot from short distance in the 93rd minute. In the 94th minute FC Steaua Pildesti were awarded a corner. Nistor Costandache went to the cornerflag to take it. The corner ended in Zygmunt Dunajski almost managing to get the ball behind the net, but Mexico's Dante Lacasa did a great save. The Mexico supporters could be heard counting down the last seconds of the match. They errupted in celebration when the whistle blew, knowing Mexico would go home with victory in their luggage after a match that easily could have ended differently.