Challenge

Central Park
Spectators: 41 (Terracing: 32, 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. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Hu Fei Sha during the 4th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. When Alberto Tafalla fell near the penalty area in the 5th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Mexico's protests and gave Alberto Tafalla a yellow card for diving instead. After a rather tough play, Mexico's Alberto Tafalla got a free kick in the 5th minute. After a rather tough play, Mexico's Alberto Tafalla got a free kick in the 7th minute. 9 minutes into the match, Sporting Royal's goal looked a bit too open when Joel Gaona came free, but Leontin Ilieș reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Lorenzo Cazalla kicked well hit freekick during the 10th minute of the match. After 11 played minutes Mexico got a freekick which was hit by Felix Luque. 14 minutes into the match, Mexico's goal looked a bit too open when Octavian Gherasescu came free, but Dante Lacasa reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Leontin Ilieș made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Joel Gaona in the 21st minute of play. After a rather tough play, Mexico's Luca Rouco got a free kick in the 23rd minute. An unexpectedly hard shot by Rony Dudu in the 23rd minute of play forced Mexico's goalkeeper Dante Lacasa to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Dante Lacasa didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Octavian Gherasescu went, in the 25th minute, to the upper right corner, 2-0 was the resulting score. Alberto Tafalla's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Leontin Ilieș read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 28th minute of play. An unexpectedly hard shot by Luca Zorita in the 32nd minute of play forced Sporting Royal's goalkeeper Leontin Ilieș to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. A collision led to Sporting Royal getting a freekick after 32 minutes play. Alin Dragalina hit a great ball. Leontin Ilieș showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Alberto Tafalla in the 34th minute of the match. In the 41st minute, Joel Gaona 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. When Hu Fei Sha was, once again, overly rough in his play he received his second yellow card and was ordered off the ground. 43 minutes had been played. In the 43rd match minute, Sporting Royal was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Hu Fei Sha to maneuver through the defense. In the 44th minute, Joel Gaona sent off a long shot on goal, but the shot was nowhere near the goal and Sporting Royal's Leontin Ilieș didn't even have to move. In the 46th match minute, Mexico was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Facundo Cadaval to maneuver through the defense. Dante Lacasa made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Octavian Gherasescu in the 47th minute of play. Af the end of the first half the score was 2-0. The first half had gone as expected for the home team.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Virgil Panciu made a kick off. Sporting Royal were furious when Diego Esteves was red carded, 54 minutes into the game, but the referee dismissed their protests. The referee blew the whistle for a penalty in the 54th minute of the game. One of Sporting Royal:s players had nearly got his shirt torn off by an opponent while getting free in front of Mexico:s goal. Joel Gaona walked up to take care of the penalty kick. He was aiming for the top corner, but the ball went just outside the post. In the 62nd minute, Facundo Cadaval left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The Mexico fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 2-1. After 72 played minutes Sporting Royal got a freekick which was hit by Dorin Borza. Sporting Royal's Ionică Predescu was substituted for Dorin Borza. Leontin Ilieș made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Joel Gaona in the 74th minute of play. Alberto Tafalla scored 2-2 in the 77th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Leontin Ilieș, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. Nae Moisil recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 82nd minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. 84 minutes into the match, Mexico's goal looked a bit too open when Nae Moisil came free, but Dante Lacasa reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. When Sporting Royal's Ionică Predescu in the 86th minute got a chance for a shot 86th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Mexico's goalie prevented a goal. Dante Lacasa took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Ionică Predescu, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. After a rather tough play, Sporting Royal's Alin Dragalina got a free kick in the 92nd minute. In the 93rd minute Joel Gaona shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Leontin Ilieș saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Alberto Tafalla kicked well hit freekick during the 93rd minute of the match. Ionică Predescu might have been able to make a better finish in the 94th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Dante Lacasa. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Ionică Predescu ran back to his position shaking his head. Virgil Panciu received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 97th minute. Dante Lacasa tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Mexico were unable to convert their possession into goals, allowing Sporting Royal to leave the ground with a draw.