Challenge

Dragons Nest
Spectators: 51 (Terracing: 39, Seating: 11, VIP seats: 1) Vince Gauci started the match with the kick off in front of an excited audience. Arthur Facciol recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 4th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Lautaro Mancebo struck a weak shot in the 7th minute. John Balzan didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Mexico. John Balzan showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Lautaro Mancebo in the 9th minute of the match. John Balzan took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Joel Gaona, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. John Balzan 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 11th minute. If Fabian Borg had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 12th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 15th minute, Lautaro Mancebo got an opportunity to score, but he didn't get a solid hit on the ball and ended up kicking it wide of the goal. 24 minutes into the match, Mexico's Alberto Tafalla sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that John Balzan narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Mexico's Joel Gaona got a good chance for a goal in the 25th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. After 27 minutes of play, Mexico's Alberto Tafalla made it 0-2 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. John Balzan was left in no man's land by his defense there! In the 33rd minute, Colin Pullicino Orlando hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. In the 34th minute, Alberto Tafalla left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The Mexico fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 0-3. Alberto Tafalla received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 37th minute. John Balzan tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. John Balzan showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Luca Zorita in the 39th minute of the match. John Balzan 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 40th minute. John Balzan made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Lautaro Mancebo in the 42nd minute of play. A collision led to Sliema Dragons FC getting a freekick after 48 minutes play. Arthur Facciol hit a great ball. Luck had favoured the away team in the first, and they walked off with a 0-4 lead.

When Colin Pullicino Orlando fell near the penalty area in the 54th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Sliema Dragons FC's protests and gave Colin Pullicino Orlando a yellow card for diving instead. Colin Pullicino Orlando hit a great freekick 55 minutes into the match. 62 minutes into the match, Mexico's goal looked a bit too open when Vince Gauci came free, but Dante Lacasa reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Lautaro Mancebo sent away a hard shot on goal in the 63rd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Alberto Tafalla in the 65thth minute had a little luck and got a chance for a shot in front of the goal. Without hesitation aimed to the right of John Balzan, who managed to lunge to the right direction and made a save. John Balzan took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Joel Gaona, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Alberto Tafalla could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 68th minute of the match, but John Balzan made a huge save. In the 72nd minute, Lautaro Mancebo made a precise shot to the right of John Balzan. Sliema Dragons FC's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 0-5. A collision led to Sliema Dragons FC getting a freekick after 76 minutes play. Christian Scalpello hit a great ball. The supporters of Mexico booed when Sliema Dragons FC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 81 match minutes in a wonderful position. Arthur Facciol didn't get a good kick on the ball. Sliema Dragons FC's John Balzan played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Bautista Elvira in the 82nd minute of play. John Balzan showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Alberto Tafalla, who was totally free with the ball in the 84th minute. Lautaro Mancebo scored 0-6 in the 85th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of John Balzan, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. John Balzan didn't succeed in stopping the ball in the 89th minute, which inside left pole to 0-7. With an all-out effort, Mexico's John Balzan threw himself towards the right post 93 minutes into the match and grabbed hold of the ball from Bautista Elvira, which otherwise would have been placed in the net. 95 minutes into the game, Lautaro Mancebo cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 0-8. John Balzan was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. Mexico's fans were overjoyed with their teams well-earned victory and stayed in the stadium long after the final whistle to celebrate the win.