Challenge

Kleanthis Vikelidis
Spectators: 42 (Terracing: 32, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Adriano Michelini started the match with the kick off. Biagio Polo made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Lautaro Mancebo in the 3rd minute of play. In the 5th minute, Lautaro Mancebo ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Biagio Polo was frozen by the shot and now it was 0-1. If Luca Zorita had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 13th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 16th minute, Felix Luque hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Aris Salonicco FC's Biagio Polo played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Lautaro Mancebo in the 18th minute of play. 19 minutes into the match, Aris Salonicco FC's goal looked a bit too open when Joel Gaona came free, but Biagio Polo reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 19th minute, Joel Gaona made a precise shot to the right of Biagio Polo. Aris Salonicco FC's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 0-2. Biagio Polo 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 25th minute. Biagio Polo took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Luca Zorita, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Alberto Tafalla sent away a hard shot on goal in the 28th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. With a little luck, Mexico's Dante Lacasa got control of the ball when Ferdinando Cacciatore tried to sneak it across the goal line. The supporters of Mexico booed when Aris Salonicco FC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 33 match minutes in a wonderful position. Marius Ichimescu didn't get a good kick on the ball. Biagio Polo took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Joel Gaona, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. 36 minutes into the match, Aris Salonicco FC's goal looked a bit too open when Joel Gaona came free, but Biagio Polo reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 36th match minute, Mexico was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Alberto Tafalla to maneuver through the defense. In the 43rd minute, Joel Gaona 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. After some fancy dribbling in the 47th minute, Joel Gaona managed to get in a good position for a shot. Mexico's supporters rose to their feet, but Joel Gaona was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Biagio Polo breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Biagio Polo took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Joel Gaona, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Joel Gaona to make the kick off. Biagio Polo made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Alberto Tafalla in the 51st minute of play. 56 minutes into the match, Aris Salonicco FC's goal looked a bit too open when Alberto Tafalla came free, but Biagio Polo reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. The audience thought a goal was coming when Lautaro Mancebo got free with Biagio Polo in the 58th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. 61 minutes into the match, Alberto Tafalla had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Biagio Polo. Aris Salonicco FC's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Alberto Tafalla was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 0-3. Aris Salonicco FC made a substitution. Giampaolo Pazzini replaced Adriano Michelini. 67 minutes into the game, Aris Salonicco FC's Enrico Cera 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, 1-3. With a little luck, Aris Salonicco FC's Biagio Polo got control of the ball when Lautaro Mancebo tried to sneak it across the goal line. In the 79th minute Enrico Cera 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. Dante Lacasa took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Ferdinando Cacciatore, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Comunardo Brunelli hit a great freekick 82 minutes into the match. With a little luck, Aris Salonicco FC's Biagio Polo got control of the ball when Lautaro Mancebo tried to sneak it across the goal line. Lautaro Mancebo received a nice pass, split the defenders, and ran untouched towards the goal. Biagio Polo came out and tried to block the shot, but Lautaro Mancebo slotted it home off the left post making it 1-4 in the 83rd minute. Dante Lacasa made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Ferdinando Cacciatore in the 89th minute of play. In the 91st minute Enrico Cera 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. Dante Lacasa took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Felice Di Ruscio, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Mexico played a much better game than Aris Salonicco FC and deserved their victory. The Aris Salonicco FC players were clearly disappointed as they left the ground.