Challenge

Theatre of Dionysus
Spectators: 50 (Terracing: 38, Seating: 11, VIP seats: 1) Joel Gaona started the match with the kick off in front of an excited audience. 5 minutes had been played when some careless play by Chop Chop F.C.'s defense caused the ball to cross the line for a corner. Joel Gaona was slow to take the kick. During this time Mexico's players had a chance to rest. 8 minutes into the match, Chop Chop F.C.'s goal looked a bit too open when Lautaro Mancebo came free, but Mebarek Mammeri reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. If Alberto Tafalla had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 11th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. An unexpectedly hard shot by Alberto Tafalla in the 15th minute of play forced Chop Chop F.C.'s goalkeeper Mebarek Mammeri to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. 18 minutes into the match, Mexico's goalkeeper Dante Lacasa had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Chadli Boudjedra. After 20 played minutes Chop Chop F.C. got a freekick which was hit by Daniel Dahleb. With a little luck, Mexico's Dante Lacasa got control of the ball when Tedj Bouguerra tried to sneak it across the goal line. After 27 minutes, Ahmed-Muhammed Muhammed mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Chop Chop F.C. and the Mexico players grew even worse after the yellow card. After a rather tough play, Chop Chop F.C.'s Ahmed-Muhammed Muhammed got a free kick in the 27th minute. After some careless play in the Chop Chop F.C. defense, Joel Gaona kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Mebarek Mammeri. The Chop Chop F.C. fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Mebarek Mammeri should have stopped the shot. An unexpectedly hard shot by Ahmed-Muhammed Muhammed in the 32nd minute of play forced Mexico's goalkeeper Dante Lacasa to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. An unexpectedly hard shot by Luca Zorita in the 39th minute of play forced Chop Chop F.C.'s goalkeeper Mebarek Mammeri to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. After 43 minutes, Joel Gaona made it 1-2 with a short kick to the right side. Chop Chop F.C.'s Mebarek Mammeri tried to save the shot but he was too slow in reacting to the shot. Lorenzo Cazalla charged in rather forcefully in the 47th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Lorenzo Cazalla the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. After 47 played minutes Mexico got a freekick which was hit by Lorenzo Cazalla. Disappointed in the 1-2 score, the home team went to the dressing room to adjust tactics for the second half.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Daniel Dahleb to strike the kick off in the second half. Mebarek Mammeri made an important save on a dangerous shot by Facundo Cadaval in the 53rd minute. Lautaro Mancebo could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 57th minute of the match, but Mebarek Mammeri made a huge save. Joel Gaona sent away a hard shot on goal in the 58th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. The crowd rose to their feet as Mexico's Lautaro Mancebo slotted home a wonderful shot that went in to the left of Mebarek Mammeri. That made the score 1-3 after 68 minutes of play. 72 minutes into the game, Alberto Tafalla cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 1-4. Mebarek Mammeri was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. Chop Chop F.C. made a substitution. Larbi Merah replaced Ahmed Toumi. Dante Lacasa came out of the goal in the 78th minute to try and stop a shot by Chop Chop F.C.'s Ahmed-Muhammed Muhammed. But to his dismay, Ahmed-Muhammed Muhammed quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 2-4. Dante Lacasa showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Ahmed-Muhammed Muhammed, who was totally free with the ball in the 80th minute. An unexpectedly hard shot by Joel Gaona in the 81st minute of play forced Chop Chop F.C.'s goalkeeper Mebarek Mammeri to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 82nd minute Mexico were awarded a corner. Joel Gaona went to the cornerflag to take it. 86 minutes into the match, Joel Gaona had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Mebarek Mammeri. Chop Chop F.C.'s manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Joel Gaona was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 2-5. In the 88th minute, Alberto Tafalla reached a very good position and smashed the ball with a huge effort into the net, just to the left of Mebarek Mammeri. The goal made the score 2-6. Dante Lacasa showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Shen Sha Xu, who was totally free with the ball in the 92nd minute. Dante Lacasa made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Shen Sha Xu in the 92nd minute of play. 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.