Challenge

Estadio Azteca
Spectators: 47 (Terracing: 36, Seating: 11, VIP seats: 0) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Nickolaj Nickerson started the match with the kick off. Lautaro Mancebo's shot straight on target was not completely harmless. The ball had pretty good speed, but Quentin Cobb firmly grabbed it by the left post. Luca Zorita hit a great freekick 9 minutes into the match. Mexico's Joel Gaona got a good chance for a goal in the 12th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. 13 minutes into the match, Mexico's goal looked a bit too open when Vince Carter came free, but Dante Lacasa reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 15thth minute of the game Frank Zappacosta who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Mexico's Dante Lacasa was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Dedé Neto during the 17th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. Dedé Neto hit a great freekick 17 minutes into the match. 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 20th minute. Luca Rouco was in a good position and managed to take a shot, but he missed just to the outside of the post. Alberto Tafalla fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 25th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Quentin Cobb having to interfere. Alberto Tafalla fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 30th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Quentin Cobb having to interfere. In the 33rd minute Harlow AFC were awarded a corner. Ryan Chivers went to the cornerflag to take it. A nice corner shot did that Ryan Chivers got away a dangerous shot. Despite this Dante Lacasa quite easily got ahold of the ball to make the save. After 37 played minutes Harlow AFC got a freekick which was hit by Vince Carter. In the 47th minute, Ryan Chivers hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. The home fans were very happy to see their team leading 1-0 at half-time.

Dante Lacasa made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Frank Zappacosta in the 55th minute of play. If Frank Zappacosta had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 60th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. 63 minutes into the match, Harlow AFC's Seb Towler sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Dante Lacasa narrowly saved just below the crossbar. If Seb Towler had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 75th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. An unexpectedly hard shot by Alberto Tafalla in the 77th minute of play forced Harlow AFC's goalkeeper Quentin Cobb to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 78th minute of the match Mexico got a corner. Harlow AFC'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. The corner ended in Facundo Cadaval almost managing to get the ball behind the net, but Harlow AFC's Quentin Cobb did a great save. In the 79th minute of the match Mexico got a corner. Harlow AFC'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. After taking down the ball on Mexico's corner Joel Gaona fired away a hard shot, but the defenders efficiently covered the most dangerous angles and Quentin Cobb quite easily take care of the ball. The crowd rose to their feet as Seb Towler kicked a wonderful shot that went in to the left of a diving Dante Lacasa. That made the score 2-1 in the 83 minute of play. Harlow AFC's players left the field with heads hung low after losing a match that had been finely balanced throughout.