Challenge

Stadio E Scida
Spectators: 42 (Terracing: 32, Seating: 10, 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. 9 minutes into the match, Mexico's goal looked a bit too open when Severino Messias came free, but Dante Lacasa reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Lautaro Mancebo blasted a shot towards the goal in the 11th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Alvaro Cirelli having to make a save. With a little luck, Mexico's Dante Lacasa got control of the ball when Cristiano Chitarroni tried to sneak it across the goal line. Alberto Tafalla fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 24th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Alvaro Cirelli having to interfere. Cristiano Chitarroni could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 25th minute of the match, but Dante Lacasa made a huge save. Joel Gaona might have been able to make a better finish in the 27th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Alvaro Cirelli. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Joel Gaona ran back to his position shaking his head. Alvaro Cirelli showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Joel Gaona, who was totally free with the ball in the 31st minute. In the 33rd minute Joel Gaona shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Alvaro Cirelli saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Lautaro Mancebo sent away a hard shot on goal in the 37th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After having played for 42 minutes, Severino Messias managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Kroton F.C.'s supporters crossed their fingers, but Severino Messias was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. 45 minutes into the game, Kroton F.C.'s Severino Messias nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Dante Lacasa made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 1-0. An unexpectedly hard shot by Severino Messias in the 48th minute of play forced Mexico's goalkeeper Dante Lacasa to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. No-one was surprised that the home team were leading 1-0 at half-time.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Severino Messias to make the kick off. Fabrizio Vieri kicked well hit freekick during the 58th minute of the match. Alvaro Cirelli showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Joel Gaona, who was totally free with the ball in the 62nd minute. An unexpectedly hard shot by Joel Gaona in the 73rd minute of play forced Kroton F.C.'s goalkeeper Alvaro Cirelli to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. After 77 minutes Kroton F.C.'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. Alvaro Cirelli made an important save on a dangerous shot by Alberto Tafalla in the 79th minute. If Joel Gaona had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 80th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Fabrizio Vieri hit a great freekick 83 minutes into the match. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Alberto Tafalla in the 84th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Alvaro Cirelli prevented the ball from getting in the gole. In the 85th minute Severino Messias 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. Alvaro Cirelli was out of position in the 86 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: 1-1. When Facundo Cadaval came up free with the goalie in the 90th minute, the Mexico fans jumped to their feet. But the shot missed the goal by a fraction of an inch, and the fans sat back down disappointed that Facundo Cadaval couldn't finish the play. When Dedé Messias fell near the penalty area in the 92nd minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Kroton F.C.'s protests and gave Dedé Messias a yellow card for diving instead. In the 92nd minute, Dedé Messias hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. A collision led to Kroton F.C. getting a freekick after 96 minutes play. Zlatin Serdarov hit a great ball. Kroton F.C.'s Alvaro Cirelli proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 97th minute of the match, managed to save Kroton F.C. from getting a goal against them. The second half was just like the first, even and exciting. The match ended in a draw.