Challenge

CHAMPIONS STADIUM
Spectators: 42 (Terracing: 32, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) Mexico's Joel Gaona started the match with a crisp pass. The crowd had been anticipating this game for weeks and the excitement in the stadium was easily visible. Fabian Zăreanu could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 3rd minute of the match, but Dante Lacasa made a huge save. Fabian Zăreanu's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Dante Lacasa read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 8th minute of play. When Lautaro Mancebo came up free with the goalie in the 11th minute, the Mexico fans jumped to their feet. But the shot missed the goal by a fraction of an inch, and the fans sat back down disappointed that Lautaro Mancebo couldn't finish the play. Fabian Zăreanu could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 13th minute of the match, but Dante Lacasa made a huge save. A collision led to Mexico getting a freekick after 14 minutes play. Joel Gaona hit a great ball. If Joel Gaona had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 17th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. 23 minutes into the match, Champions Iasi's goal looked a bit too open when Alberto Tafalla came free, but Broderick Ceney reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Broderick Ceney made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Joel Gaona in the 25th minute of play. Facundo Cadaval kicked well hit freekick during the 26th minute of the match. Broderick Ceney didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Joel Gaona went, in the 37th minute, to the upper right corner, 0-1 was the resulting score. Dante Lacasa made a fantastic save in the 43rd minute, when Waldemar Gierlach sent off a good shot on target. Basarab Alexandru kicked well hit freekick during the 45th minute of the match. Broderick Ceney came out of the goal in the 47th minute to try and stop a shot by Mexico's Alberto Tafalla. But to his dismay, Alberto Tafalla quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 0-2. Even after changing tactics the home team jogged off the field with a 0-2 deficit. They would have to work harder if they wanted to turn things around in the second half.

In the 55th minute Jacinto Romero 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. After a rather tough play, Champions Iasi's Eusebiu Crăciunaș got a free kick in the 56th minute. Lautaro Mancebo blasted a shot towards the goal in the 59th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Broderick Ceney having to make a save. In the 61st minute, Champions Iasi's goalie took a deep sigh of relief after Lautaro Mancebo fired away a hard shot that went just outside the left post. Dante Lacasa came out of the goal in the 67th minute to try and stop a shot by Champions Iasi's Fabian Zăreanu. But to his dismay, Fabian Zăreanu quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 1-2. After 77 played minutes Champions Iasi got a freekick which was hit by Basarab Alexandru. Broderick Ceney showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Facundo Cadaval, who was totally free with the ball in the 79th minute. 84 minutes into the match, Champions Iasi's goalkeeper Broderick Ceney had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Lautaro Mancebo. Lautaro Mancebo could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 85th minute of the match, but Broderick Ceney made a huge save. Luca Zorita sent away a hard shot on goal in the 88th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. An unexpectedly hard shot by Jacinto Romero in the 93rd minute of play forced Mexico's goalkeeper Dante Lacasa to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Dante Lacasa made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Jacinto Romero in the 95th minute of play. When the final whistle sounded Mexico left the ground with the victory after a much better performance than Champions Iasi.