Challenge

Pit of Bodom
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. English Fire's Dragoş Puric played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Lautaro Mancebo in the 3rd minute of play. After 8 minutes of play, the referee blew the whistle. It was a penalty for English Fire! In the 9th minute there was a penalty for Mexico. Joel Gaona stepped forward and shot the ball to the right of a diving Dragoş Puric. 0-1. English Fire's Dragoş Puric played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Joel Gaona in the 13th minute of play. 14 minutes into the game, Monico Dragomir was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. English Fire's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Mexico the free kick. Monico Dragomir hit a great freekick 14 minutes into the match. Dragoş Puric showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Joel Gaona in the 15th minute of the match. An unexpectedly hard shot by Lautaro Mancebo in the 18th minute of play forced English Fire's goalkeeper Dragoş Puric to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 18th match minute, English Fire was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Horia Enachescu to maneuver through the defense. Lautaro Mancebo struck a weak shot in the 20th minute. Dragoş Puric didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Mexico. Dante Lacasa made an important save on a dangerous shot by Sven-Edvin Ahlroth in the 21st minute. Lautaro Mancebo sent away a hard shot on goal in the 25th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. In the 26th match minute, Mexico was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Luca Rouco to maneuver through the defense. In the 27th minute of the match Cristinel Negulescu shot from a long distance. The ball could have gone into the goal to the right of the goalkeeper, but Dante Lacasa showed his good shape when he easily got hold of the ball. With an all-out effort, English Fire's Dante Lacasa threw himself towards the right post 30 minutes into the match and grabbed hold of the ball from Nae Hăvârneanu, which otherwise would have been placed in the net. A collision led to Mexico getting a freekick after 34 minutes play. Felix Luque hit a great ball. If Monico Dragomir had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 35th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Dragoş Puric took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Facundo Cadaval, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Dante Lacasa made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Cazimir Ciulei in the 38th minute of play. Dante Lacasa made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Nae Hăvârneanu in the 46th minute of play. Even after changing tactics the home team jogged off the field with a 0-1 deficit. They would have to work harder if they wanted to turn things around in the second half.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Sven-Edvin Ahlroth stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. Dante Lacasa didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Cazimir Ciulei went, in the 51st minute, to the upper right corner, 1-1 was the resulting score. 54 minutes into the game, Mexico's Lautaro Mancebo nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Dragoş Puric made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 1-2. In the 57th minute, Luca Zorita 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: 1-3. An unexpectedly hard shot by Joel Gaona in the 61st minute of play forced English Fire's goalkeeper Dragoş Puric to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Mexico's Dante Lacasa played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Nae Hăvârneanu in the 63rd minute of play. 64 minutes into the game, Lautaro Mancebo cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 1-4. Dragoş Puric was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. English Fire's Dragoş Puric proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 68th minute of the match, managed to save English Fire from getting a goal against them. The corner ended in Joel Gaona almost managing to get the ball behind the net, but English Fire's Dragoş Puric did a great save. Lautaro Mancebo made a well adjusted shot against goal in the 70thth minute coming free in front of the goal, but Dragoş Puric would not let the ball come through at any expense and made a nice save by the left post. Dante Lacasa showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Cazimir Ciulei, who was totally free with the ball in the 75th minute. 78 minutes into the match, Mexico's goal looked a bit too open when Nae Hăvârneanu came free, but Dante Lacasa reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. A collision led to English Fire getting a freekick after 80 minutes play. Cristinel Negulescu hit a great ball. Dragoş Puric was out of position in the 81 minute of play, and Lautaro Mancebo capitalized on the mistake with a soft shot into the goal. Lautaro Mancebo really showed his touch with that goal: 1-5. In the 86th minute, Felix Luque hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. 90 minutes into the match, English Fire's goal looked a bit too open when Alberto Tafalla came free, but Dragoş Puric reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. The supporters of English Fire booed when Mexico was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 92 match minutes in a wonderful position. Alberto Tafalla didn't get a good kick on the ball. The English Fire supporters were disappointed that their team didn't take anything from the match, despite matching Mexico's performance. The match ended with a win for Mexico.