Challenge

Crystal Arena
Spectators: 40 (Terracing: 31, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) Joel Gaona made the kick off and thus started the match. 4 minutes into the match, Mexico's goal looked a bit too open when He Lin Di came free, but Dante Lacasa reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After a rather tough play, Veth Crystals's Ludomir Radzyminski got a free kick in the 7th minute. Marcos Lama 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 10th minute. In the 13th match minute, Veth Crystals was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Ludomir Radzyminski to maneuver through the defense. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Alberto Tafalla in the 15th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Marcos Lama saved Veth Crystals from getting behind. 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 16th minute. The corner first didn't look so dangerous but when Luca Rouco got the ball he succeeded in some way to get through the defenders to deliver a very hard score. Result 0-1. 16 minutes into the match. Dante Lacasa made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Carlos-Armando Valderrama in the 19th minute of play. An unexpectedly hard shot by Gwidon Patora in the 20th minute of play forced Mexico's goalkeeper Dante Lacasa to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. 30 minutes had been played when some careless play by Veth Crystals'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. Joel Gaona made a great header on Mexico's corner, it was just that Veth Crystals's Marcos Lama managed to reach the ball for a save. Through an outstanding action, after 32 minutes, Dante Lacasa successfully got his hands on the ball before it slid into the goal at the right post. Dante Lacasa showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Gwidon Patora in the 33rd minute of the match. 37 minutes into the game, Lautaro Mancebo cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 0-2. Marcos Lama was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. 41 minutes into the match, Mexico's goal looked a bit too open when Gwidon Patora came free, but Dante Lacasa reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. The supporters of Veth Crystals booed when Mexico was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 43 match minutes in a wonderful position. Joel Gaona didn't get a good kick on the ball. In the 44th minute Gwidon Patora 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. Marcos Lama took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Alberto Tafalla, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. The Veth Crystals players were disheartened as they walked off the pitch after the first half. Mexico were winning 0-2.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Gwidon Patora stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. Dante Lacasa made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Gwidon Patora in the 51st minute of play. In the 54th minute, Veth Crystals's goalie took a deep sigh of relief after Lautaro Mancebo fired away a hard shot that went just outside the left post. The supporters of Mexico booed when Veth Crystals was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 55 match minutes in a wonderful position. Alejandro Bullon didn't get a good kick on the ball. Lautaro Mancebo could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 63rd minute of the match, but Marcos Lama made a huge save. A collision led to Veth Crystals getting a freekick after 66 minutes play. Józef Kalafus hit a great ball. Veth Crystals's Sebastian Wierzchowski was substituted for He Lin Di. In the 67th minute, Józef Kalafus hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Joel Gaona sent away a hard shot on goal in the 72nd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. 80 minutes had been played when some careless play by Mexico's defense caused the ball to cross the line for a corner. Song Xing was slow to take the kick. During this time Veth Crystals's players had a chance to rest. A nice corner shot did that Song Xing got away a dangerous shot. Despite this Dante Lacasa quite easily got ahold of the ball to make the save. If Erik Persson had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 81st minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Mexico's Dante Lacasa played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Gwidon Patora in the 82nd minute of play. Ludomir Radzyminski's late challenge caught a Mexico's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Ludomir Radzyminski helped the player get up and apologised. In a very dangerous position, a player in Veth Crystals fell when an opponent tried to get the ball from him in the 84th minute. Penalty! Marcos Lama had in the 86thth minute some difficulties stopping Joel Gaona's well aimed penalty as it nearly passed him on his right side, but he still managed to hold the ball After a long run with the ball, Joel Gaona did a trick in the 86th minute in front of Veth Crystals's goalkeeper, who threw himself to the side. After that it was simple to shoot 0-3. An impressive performance by Mexico's Joel Gaona! Mexico's Facundo Cadaval suffered a concussion in the 88th minute, after a hard challenge, and had to leave the field. 88 minutes into the game, Erik Persson was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Veth Crystals's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Mexico the free kick. Mexico made a substitution. Xavier Seco replaced Facundo Cadaval. Erik Persson kicked well hit freekick during the 89th minute of the match. Joel Gaona was probably a little too eager to shoot when he, in the 93rd played minute, shot the ball from way out. The shot was hard, but the ball flew wide of the goal. Dante Lacasa showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Erik Persson in the 96th minute of the match. The Veth Crystals fans had already started to leave before the final whistle blew. Mexico were clearly better and deserved to take the win.