Challenge

Bebbanburg Arena
Spectators: 40 (Terracing: 31, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Hugo Raitin got the match started through his kick off. Isaias Sazon could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 3rd minute of the match, but Dante Lacasa made a huge save. 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 5th minute. With a little luck, Mexico's Dante Lacasa got control of the ball when Isaias Sazon tried to sneak it across the goal line. In the 10th minute Joel Gaona shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Pastor Frantzes saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. 11 minutes had been played when some careless play by Sajones F.C.'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. The corner led to Mexico's Luca Zorita getting away a dangerous shot that went just outside the goal. Isaias Sazon hit a great freekick 15 minutes into the match. Mo Feng Xiang kicked well hit freekick during the 18th minute of the match. In the 21st minute, Luca Rouco hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Pastor Frantzes 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 28th minute. Alberto Tafalla received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 29th minute. Pastor Frantzes tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Lautaro Mancebo received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 30th minute. Pastor Frantzes tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. In the 32nd minute, Sajones F.C.'s Hugo Raitin dribbled the ball into the box and hit a shot with the outside of his foot, sending the keeper the wrong way. 1-0. Alberto Tafalla's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Pastor Frantzes read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 34th minute of play. In the 35th minute, Alberto Tafalla ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Pastor Frantzes was frozen by the shot and now it was 1-1. Dante Lacasa took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Eliseo Claude, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Conrad Airpoel fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 41st minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Dante Lacasa having to interfere. 43 minutes into the match, Mexico's goal looked a bit too open when Conrad Airpoel came free, but Dante Lacasa reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After a rather tough play, Mexico's Alberto Tafalla got a free kick in the 45th minute. 47 minutes into the match, Mexico's Joel Gaona sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Pastor Frantzes narrowly saved just below the crossbar. 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.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Joel Gaona was the one to do the kick off. Alberto Tafalla received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 53rd minute. Pastor Frantzes tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Mexico were furious when Lorenzo Cazalla was red carded, 57 minutes into the game, but the referee dismissed their protests. 56 minutes into the game, one of Mexico:s players got tackled near the goal, and the referee blew for a penalty. In the 58th minute there was a penalty for Sajones F.C.. Conrad Airpoel stepped forward and shot the ball to the right of a diving Dante Lacasa. 2-1. After some fancy dribbling in the 61st 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. Pastor Frantzes breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. In the 63rd minute, Luca Zorita ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Pastor Frantzes was frozen by the shot and now it was 2-2. Lautaro Mancebo could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 70th minute of the match, but Pastor Frantzes made a huge save. In the 72nd minute Alberto Tafalla shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Pastor Frantzes saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Conrad Airpoel scored 3-2 in the 74th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Dante Lacasa, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. The crowd rose to their feet as Alberto Tafalla kicked a wonderful shot that went in to the left of a diving Pastor Frantzes. That made the score 3-3 in the 81 minute of play. Pastor Frantzes made a fantastic save in the 85th minute, when Lautaro Mancebo sent off a good shot on target. After 89 minutes of play, the referee blew the whistle. It was a penalty for Mexico! In the 92nd minute Eliseo Claude 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. Alberto Tafalla fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 94th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Pastor Frantzes having to interfere. The final whistle blew with the score still tied, and both teams left the pitch thinking about the missed chances that could have given their team the win.