Challenge

Het Putteke
Spectators: 44 (Terracing: 34, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) Racing Matinette's Alan Creemers started the match with a crisp pass. The crowd had been anticipating this game for weeks and the excitement in the stadium was easily visible. Lautaro Mancebo received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 3rd minute. Casper Jans tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. In the 7th minute of the match Racing Matinette got a corner. Mexico's goalie ran out to the linesman to protest the call, but the linesman resolutely pointed his flag at the cornerflag. Qu Hong Liang ran over to the corner to take the kick. In the 11th minute, Matthew Van Cauwenbergh hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Casper Jans showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Joel Gaona in the 12th minute of the match. An unexpectedly hard shot by Alberto Tafalla in the 14th minute of play forced Racing Matinette's goalkeeper Casper Jans to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Racing Matinette's Casper Jans played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Alberto Tafalla in the 19th minute of play. Alberto Tafalla took the ball and in the 19 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Casper Jans. Casper Jans dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 0-1. 23 minutes into the match, Racing Matinette's goal looked a bit too open when Joel Gaona came free, but Casper Jans reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After 24 minutes of play, Mexico's Joel Gaona made it 0-2 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Casper Jans was left in no man's land by his defense there! In the 28th minute Joel Gaona shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Casper Jans saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Casper Jans made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Joel Gaona in the 29th minute of play. A collision led to Racing Matinette getting a freekick after 30 minutes play. Qu Hong Liang hit a great ball. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Lautaro Mancebo in the 35th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Casper Jans saved Racing Matinette from getting behind. Casper Jans made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Lautaro Mancebo in the 36th minute of play. In the 40th minute Joel Gaona shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Casper Jans saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. After some fancy dribbling in the 43rd minute, Joel Gaona managed to get in a good position for a shot. Mexico's supporters rose to their feet, but Joel Gaona was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Casper Jans breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Even after changing tactics the home team jogged off the field with a 0-2 deficit. They would have to work harder if they wanted to turn things around in the second half.

The wind increased when Joel Gaona made the kick off in the second half. Casper Jans showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Joel Gaona in the 51st minute of the match. After a defensive mix-up in Racing Matinette's zone, Lautaro Mancebo stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Casper Jans came out of the goal and Lautaro Mancebo tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Racing Matinette's Cristiano Lukaku was substituted for Ivar Axelsson. The audience thought a goal was coming when Lautaro Mancebo got free with Casper Jans in the 68th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. The audience thought a goal was coming when Alberto Tafalla got free with Casper Jans in the 71st minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Facundo Cadaval kicked well hit freekick during the 78th minute of the match. Joel Gaona's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Casper Jans read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 85th minute of play. Joel Gaona sent away a hard shot on goal in the 86th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. 89 minutes into the match, Mexico's goal looked a bit too open when Cristiano Lukaku came free, but Dante Lacasa reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. 89 minutes into the match, Cristiano Lukaku had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Dante Lacasa. Mexico's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Cristiano Lukaku was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 1-3. Racing Matinette's Casper Jans proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 93rd minute of the match, managed to save Racing Matinette from getting a goal against them. Lautaro Mancebo's shot straight on target was not completely harmless. The ball had pretty good speed, but Casper Jans firmly grabbed it by the left post. Mexico's players went to the stands to thank the travelling support. The fan's backing had helped spurr the team on to a fine performance that won them the match.