Challenge

Arturo Valerio
Spectators: 42 (Terracing: 32, 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. Dante Lacasa showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Stelian Popeangă in the 4th minute of the match. In the 5th minute the ball was on its way in behind As Melfi 1929's goalkeeper Eraldo Bulla, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. 8 minutes into the match, As Melfi 1929's goal looked a bit too open when Alberto Tafalla came free, but Eraldo Bulla reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 14th minute Joel Gaona shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Eraldo Bulla saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Stelian Popeangă fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 16th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Dante Lacasa having to interfere. In the 19th minute of the match As Melfi 1929 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. Claudiu Baldovin ran over to the corner to take the kick. If Davide La Marca had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 21st minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 23rd minute Alberto Tafalla shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Eraldo Bulla saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. As Melfi 1929's Eraldo Bulla played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Lautaro Mancebo in the 25th minute of play. In the 27th minute Lautaro Mancebo shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Eraldo Bulla saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Eraldo Bulla 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 28th minute. In the 29th minute Joel Gaona shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Eraldo Bulla saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Eraldo Bulla showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Alberto Tafalla in the 33rd minute of the match. The corner ended in Facundo Cadaval almost managing to get the ball behind the net, but As Melfi 1929's Eraldo Bulla did a great save. In the 37th minute Alberto Tafalla shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Eraldo Bulla saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. After 38 minutes As Melfi 1929'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. Claudiu Baldovin sent away a hard shot on goal in the 40th minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. An unexpectedly hard shot by Bozo Bonk in the 42nd minute of play forced Mexico's goalkeeper Dante Lacasa to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Dante Lacasa made an important save on a dangerous shot by Davide La Marca in the 45th minute.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Davide La Marca stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. Eraldo Bulla made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Joel Gaona in the 55th minute of play. Dante Lacasa came out of the goal in the 57th minute to try and stop a shot by As Melfi 1929's Carlo Miccio. But to his dismay, Carlo Miccio quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 1-0. Dante Lacasa took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Davide La Marca, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 64th minute of the match, Joel Gaona tried to roll the ball into the goal by the right post, but Eraldo Bulla saw his intentions and got control of the ball before it passed the line. 65 minutes had been played when some careless play by As Melfi 1929's defense caused the ball to cross the line for a corner. Joel Gaona was slow to take the kick. During this time Mexico's players had a chance to rest. A very nice done corner allowed Luca Zorita to score against Eraldo Bulla in As Melfi 1929's goal. 1-1 after 65 minutes. Eraldo Bulla made an important save on a dangerous shot by Lautaro Mancebo in the 68th minute. Eraldo Bulla didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Joel Gaona went, in the 69th minute, to the upper right corner, 1-2 was the resulting score. Eraldo Bulla showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Luca Zorita in the 72nd minute of the match. Joel Gaona sent away a hard shot on goal in the 75th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. The audience thought a goal was coming when Alberto Tafalla got free with Eraldo Bulla in the 78th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. In the 81st minute, Joel Gaona made a precise shot to the right of Eraldo Bulla. As Melfi 1929's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 1-3. Dante Lacasa took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Napoleon Walaszkiewicz, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Joel Gaona sent away a hard shot on goal in the 91st minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. In the 92nd minute the ball was on its way in behind Mexico's goalkeeper Dante Lacasa, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. Facundo Cadaval hit a great freekick 94 minutes into the match. In the 95th minute the ball was on its way in behind Mexico's goalkeeper Dante Lacasa, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar.