Challenge

Kolomna Arena
Spectators: 45 (Terracing: 35, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) Alberto Tafalla received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 5th minute. Nikita Gudkov tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. In the 14th minute Lautaro Mancebo shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Nikita Gudkov saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Apostolikas Gaitanopoulos charged in rather forcefully in the 15th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Apostolikas Gaitanopoulos the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. Apostolikas Gaitanopoulos hit a great freekick 15 minutes into the match. Yaromir Sharapov kicked well hit freekick during the 18th minute of the match. The crowd rose to their feet as Unica FC's Aybar Bayezit slotted home a wonderful shot that went in to the left of Dante Lacasa. That made the score 1-0 after 20 minutes of play. Veniamin Markov might have been able to make a better finish in the 24th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Dante Lacasa. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Veniamin Markov ran back to his position shaking his head. An unexpectedly hard shot by Lautaro Mancebo in the 25th minute of play forced Unica FC's goalkeeper Nikita Gudkov to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Veniamin Markov who was well placed in front of the goal fired away a dangerous shot that in the 30thth minute tested the skills of Dante Lacasa when he managed to save the team from getting behind. 31 minutes had been played when some careless play by Mexico's defense caused the ball to cross the line for a corner. Veniamin Markov was slow to take the kick. During this time Unica FC's players had a chance to rest. After some fancy dribbling in the 36th minute, Alberto Tafalla managed to get in a good position for a shot. Mexico's supporters rose to their feet, but Alberto Tafalla was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Nikita Gudkov breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. In the 40th match minute, Unica FC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Klim Leonov to maneuver through the defense. A sloppy throw-in by Macos Graciani in the 45th minute of the game went astray and was snapped up by Unica FC's Yaromir Sharapov. If Luca Zorita had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 47th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. The away team players looked dejected as the walked off the pitch at half time. They had fought hard, but were still losing 1-0.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Veniamin Markov made a kick off. Lautaro Mancebo took the ball and in the 52 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Nikita Gudkov. Nikita Gudkov dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 1-1. 55 minutes into the match, Unica FC's goal looked a bit too open when Alberto Tafalla came free, but Nikita Gudkov reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Lautaro Mancebo sent away a hard shot on goal in the 56th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After 58 played minutes Unica FC got a freekick which was hit by Oleg Efremov. Nikita Gudkov made an important save on a dangerous shot by Joel Gaona in the 58th minute. Dante Lacasa took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Veniamin Markov, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. The crowd rose to their feet as Luca Zorita kicked a wonderful shot that went in to the left of a diving Nikita Gudkov. That made the score 1-2 in the 66 minute of play. In the 69th minute, Dmitriy Cherep hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Unica FC's Nikita Gudkov played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Luca Zorita in the 70th minute of play. 71 minutes into the game, Aybar Bayezit cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 2-2. Dante Lacasa was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. In the 77thth minute of the game Joel Gaona who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Unica FC's Nikita Gudkov was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. Nikita Gudkov took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Joel Gaona, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Dante Lacasa showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Sevastyan Lemeshevskiy, who was totally free with the ball in the 82nd minute. Nikita Gudkov showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Joel Gaona in the 83rd minute of the match. A collision led to Mexico getting a freekick after 84 minutes play. Macos Graciani hit a great ball. Lautaro Mancebo blasted a shot towards the goal in the 87th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Nikita Gudkov having to make a save. After having played for 93 minutes, Lautaro Mancebo managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Mexico's supporters crossed their fingers, but Lautaro Mancebo was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Despite being the better team, Mexico failed to find the winning goal and were forced to settle for a single point.