Challenge

Nilton Santos
Spectators: 41 (Terracing: 32, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Joel Gaona started the match with the kick off. In the 7th minute Alberto Tafalla shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Benjamim Dante saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Benjamim Dante 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 8th minute. An unexpectedly hard shot by Alberto Tafalla in the 9th minute of play forced Estrela Solitária's goalkeeper Benjamim Dante to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Estrela Solitária's Naldo Rossi was first on the ball when the corner was shot and he dangerously headed the ball towards goal, but Dante Lacasa in the goal jumped up to prevent it from getting in. After 18 minutes of play, Mexico's Lautaro Mancebo made it 0-1 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Benjamim Dante was left in no man's land by his defense there! After a defensive mix-up in Estrela Solitária's zone, Joel Gaona stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Benjamim Dante came out of the goal and Joel Gaona tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Benjamim Dante took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Joel Gaona, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Luca Zorita fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 27th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Benjamim Dante having to interfere. After a rather tough play, Estrela Solitária's Dudu Meira got a free kick in the 28th minute. In the 29th match minute, Mexico was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Joel Gaona to maneuver through the defense. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Lautaro Mancebo in the 31st minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Benjamim Dante prevented the ball from getting in the gole. 33 minutes into the match, Estrela Solitária's goal looked a bit too open when Lautaro Mancebo came free, but Benjamim Dante reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After having played for 35 minutes, Alberto Tafalla managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Mexico's supporters crossed their fingers, but Alberto Tafalla was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. If Alberto Tafalla had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 37th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. A collision led to Mexico getting a freekick after 39 minutes play. Leonardo Leoz hit a great ball. After having played for 44 minutes, Joel Gaona managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Mexico's supporters crossed their fingers, but Joel Gaona was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Guilherme Peixoto kicked well hit freekick during the 48th minute of the match. Estrela Solitária made a substitution. Gerd Müller replaced Sandrinho Hoffmann. After a rather tough play, Estrela Solitária's Guilherme Peixoto got a free kick in the 49th minute. The crowd was extremely unhappy with the home team's performance in the first half. They were losing 0-1.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Dudu Meira was the one to do the kick off. Willian Gaúcho charged in rather forcefully in the 54th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Willian Gaúcho the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. The supporters of Mexico booed when Estrela Solitária was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 54 match minutes in a wonderful position. Willian Gaúcho didn't get a good kick on the ball. 66 minutes into the match, Facundo Cadaval had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Benjamim Dante. Estrela Solitária's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Facundo Cadaval was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 0-2. The supporters of Estrela Solitária booed when Mexico was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 69 match minutes in a wonderful position. Joel Gaona didn't get a good kick on the ball. Arzen Krasniqi hit a great freekick 71 minutes into the match. 74 minutes into the match, Mexico's goal looked a bit too open when Dudu Meira came free, but Dante Lacasa reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. 81 minutes into the match, Joel Gaona had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Benjamim Dante. Estrela Solitária's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Joel Gaona was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 0-3. In the 88th match minute, Estrela Solitária was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Dudu Meira to maneuver through the defense. The audience thought a goal was coming when Lautaro Mancebo got free with Benjamim Dante in the 89th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Benjamim Dante made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Joel Gaona in the 92nd minute of play. Lautaro Mancebo might have been able to make a better finish in the 94th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Benjamim Dante. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Lautaro Mancebo ran back to his position shaking his head. After some fancy dribbling in the 96th minute, Gerd Müller managed to get in a good position for a shot. Estrela Solitária's supporters rose to their feet, but Gerd Müller was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Dante Lacasa breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. 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.