Challenge

Gigante de Arroyito
Spectators: 40 (Terracing: 31, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) The mood of the audience was pleasant when Joel Gaona made the kick off which started today's match. Lautaro Mancebo sent away a hard shot on goal in the 3rd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. 5 minutes into the match, Rosario Central's goal looked a bit too open when Lautaro Mancebo came free, but Julio Garay reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Mexico's attacker deliberately struck the ball against an opponent to win a corner for his team. The corner was taken by Joel Gaona in the 7th minute. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Alberto Tafalla in the 12th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Julio Garay saved Rosario Central from getting behind. Alberto Tafalla fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 17th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Julio Garay having to interfere. 21 minutes into the match, Rosario Central's goal looked a bit too open when Lautaro Mancebo came free, but Julio Garay reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Joel Gaona recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 24th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. After a rather tough play, Mexico's Luca Rouco got a free kick in the 24th minute. After a rather tough play, Rosario Central's Leopoldo Baraquiel got a free kick in the 25th minute. Rosario Central's Julio Garay played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Lautaro Mancebo in the 27th minute of play. 29 minutes into the match, Rosario Central's goal looked a bit too open when Alberto Tafalla came free, but Julio Garay reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 30th minute of the match Mexico got a corner. Rosario Central's goalie ran out to the linesman to protest the call, but the linesman resolutely pointed his flag at the cornerflag. Joel Gaona ran over to the corner to take the kick. Luca Rouco was in a good position and managed to take a shot, but he missed just to the outside of the post. A collision led to Mexico getting a freekick after 33 minutes play. Felix Luque hit a great ball. Rosario Central's Julio Garay played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Joel Gaona in the 36th minute of play. In the 43rd minute Lautaro Mancebo shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Julio Garay saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Mexico were awarded a corner in the 45th minute after Rosario Central's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Joel Gaona took the corner. Joel Gaona was in a good position and managed to take a shot, but he missed just to the outside of the post. After 47 minutes, Fermin Cambiasso mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Rosario Central and the Mexico players grew even worse after the yellow card. The supporters of Mexico booed when Rosario Central was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 47 match minutes in a wonderful position. Fermin Cambiasso didn't get a good kick on the ball. 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.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Leopoldo Baraquiel stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. If Lautaro Mancebo had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 51st minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Lautaro Mancebo sent away a hard shot on goal in the 54th minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. If Luca Zorita had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 61st minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. An unexpectedly hard shot by Joel Gaona in the 64th minute of play forced Rosario Central's goalkeeper Julio Garay to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Dante Lacasa showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Leopoldo Baraquiel, who was totally free with the ball in the 67th minute. Alberto Tafalla received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 68th minute. Julio Garay tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. After some careless play in the Rosario Central defense, Facundo Cadaval kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Julio Garay. The Rosario Central fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Julio Garay should have stopped the shot. The audience was convinced that Alberto Tafalla's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Julio Garay was relentless in the 77th minute of the game. After some fancy dribbling in the 82nd minute, Lautaro Mancebo managed to get in a good position for a shot. Mexico's supporters rose to their feet, but Lautaro Mancebo was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Julio Garay breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Rosario Central's Julio Garay played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Joel Gaona in the 84th minute of play. With his leg Julio Garay managed to avoid a goal in the 89thth minute, when Mexico's Lautaro Mancebo fired away a shot with a lot of spin towards his right hand side. Julio Garay took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Joel Gaona, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Rosario Central's Julio Garay proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 92nd minute of the match, managed to save Rosario Central from getting a goal against them. Joel Gaona might have been able to make a better finish in the 94th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Julio Garay. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Joel Gaona ran back to his position shaking his head. When the final whistle was heard the away supporters stood up and showed their joy. Mexico had managed to secure a win in what was a close match throughout.