Challenge

Grasmere Fields
Spectators: 44 (Terracing: 34, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Joel Gaona started the match with the kick off. The Harlow AFC fans' excitement grew in the 9th match minute when Harlow AFC's Frank Zappacosta looked to have a clear shot with the ball near the goal. The shot wasn't hard, but the ball still rolled over the goal line to make it 1-0 before the goalkeeper had a chance to intervene. In the 12th minute the ball was on its way in behind Harlow AFC's goalkeeper Quentin Cobb, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. A collision led to Harlow AFC getting a freekick after 15 minutes play. German Lon hit a great ball. Quentin Cobb showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Lautaro Mancebo, who was totally free with the ball in the 16th minute. A collision led to Harlow AFC getting a freekick after 20 minutes play. Frank Zappacosta hit a great ball. After having played for 22 minutes, Lautaro Mancebo managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Mexico's supporters crossed their fingers, but Lautaro Mancebo was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Harlow AFC's Quentin Cobb played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Lautaro Mancebo in the 26th minute of play. After some fancy dribbling in the 29th minute, Alberto Tafalla managed to get in a good position for a shot. Mexico's supporters rose to their feet, but Alberto Tafalla was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Quentin Cobb breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. In the 31st minute Frank Zappacosta 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. Harlow AFC's Seb Towler suffered a sore knee after 31 minutes and couldn't finish the game. When Facundo Cadaval fell near the penalty area in the 32nd minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Mexico's protests and gave Facundo Cadaval a yellow card for diving instead. Harlow AFC's Len Thorne was substituted for Seb Towler. Facundo Cadaval kicked well hit freekick during the 33rd minute of the match. Ryan Chivers took a chance and fired a shot far from the goal in the 34th minute, but it turned out to be a dangerous situation for Dante Lacasa. Mexico's goalkeeper really had to stretch himself to stop the ball from crossing the goal line. After a defensive mix-up in Mexico's zone, Vince Carter stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Dante Lacasa came out of the goal and Vince Carter tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. The away team players looked dejected as the walked off the pitch at half time. They had fought hard, but were still losing 1-0.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Nickolaj Nickerson to strike the kick off in the second half. In the 51st match minute, Harlow AFC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Frank Zappacosta to maneuver through the defense. Harlow AFC's Quentin Cobb proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 53rd minute of the match, managed to save Harlow AFC from getting a goal against them. After 55 played minutes Mexico got a freekick which was hit by Lautaro Mancebo. Quentin Cobb took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Alberto Tafalla, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. After 60 minutes Harlow AFC's defender was forced to head the ball over the line for a corner. It was Joel Gaona who took care of the corner kick. The corner ended in Joel Gaona almost managing to get the ball behind the net, but Harlow AFC's Quentin Cobb did a great save. 63 minutes into the match, Mexico's Joel Gaona sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Quentin Cobb narrowly saved just below the crossbar. An unexpectedly hard shot by Alberto Tafalla in the 68th minute of play forced Harlow AFC's goalkeeper Quentin Cobb to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Dante Lacasa took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Frank Zappacosta, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. 74 minutes into the match, Harlow AFC's goalkeeper Quentin Cobb had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Alberto Tafalla. Frank Zappacosta sent away a hard shot on goal in the 80th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. In the 82nd minute, Vince Carter hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. In the 90th match minute, Harlow AFC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Ryan Chivers to maneuver through the defense. Vince Carter hit a great freekick 93 minutes into the match. Lautaro Mancebo received a nice pass, split the defenders, and ran untouched towards the goal. Quentin Cobb came out and tried to block the shot, but Lautaro Mancebo slotted it home off the left post making it 1-1 in the 95th minute. Despite being the better team, Mexico failed to find the winning goal and were forced to settle for a single point.