Challenge

Jose Amalfitani
Spectators: 40 (Terracing: 31, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) Joel Gaona started the match with the kick off in front of an excited audience. Nereo Artaldo could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 5th minute of the match, but Dante Lacasa made a huge save. In the 7th 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. Erwin Huygens took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Alberto Tafalla, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Erwin Huygens showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Alberto Tafalla, who was totally free with the ball in the 9th minute. An unexpectedly hard shot by Joel Gaona in the 12th minute of play forced Velez Sarsfield's goalkeeper Erwin Huygens to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Velez Sarsfield's Ago Tramp quite brazenly broke a throw-in by Joel Gaona, made in the 13th minute of the game. Erwin Huygens made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Alberto Tafalla in the 17th minute of play. Ago Tramps short, quick shot in the 18thth minute got Dante Lacasa to make great effort and bar the ball away from getting in. Mexico's defense didn't have a chance, in the 20th minute, when Nereo Artaldo scored to the left of an out of position Dante Lacasa, making the score, 1-0. 22 minutes into the match, Mexico's goalkeeper Dante Lacasa had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Ago Tramp. After taking down the ball on Velez Sarsfield's corner Javier Pinola fired away a hard shot, but the defenders efficiently covered the most dangerous angles and Dante Lacasa quite easily take care of the ball. In the 30th minute, Alberto Tafalla ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Erwin Huygens was frozen by the shot and now it was 1-1. Erwin Huygens showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Alberto Tafalla, who was totally free with the ball in the 34th minute. In the 42nd minute of the match Velez Sarsfield 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. Filomeno Montrell ran over to the corner to take the kick. The fans had the chance to grab some refreshments as the whistle went for half-time. The score stood at 1-1 after a close first half.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Nereo Artaldo made a kick off. Alberto Tafalla recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 51st minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Erwin Huygens made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Alberto Tafalla in the 54th minute of play. In the 55th minute of the match Mexico got a corner. Velez Sarsfield'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. Nereo Artaldo took the ball and in the 64 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Dante Lacasa. Dante Lacasa dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 2-1. In the 74th minute, Marcos Pacifico hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Filomeno Montrell recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 79th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Velez Sarsfield made a substitution. Yiyo Bernal replaced Marcos Pacifico. When Velez Sarsfield's Augusto Cordario in the 84th minute got a chance for a shot 84th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Mexico's goalie prevented a goal. Erwin Huygens showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Facundo Cadaval, who was totally free with the ball in the 85th minute. Velez Sarsfield's attentive Ando Averin managed to snatch the ball when Leonardo Leoz made a throw-in in the 87th minute of the game. In the 88th minute Augusto Cordario shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Dante Lacasa saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Augusto Cordario in the 94th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Dante Lacasa prevented the ball from getting in the gole. Mexico's players left the field with heads hung low after losing a match that had been finely balanced throughout.