Challenge

Folke Anderson
Spectators: 44 (Terracing: 34, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when Joel Gaona kicked off to start the match. Aguinaga Nebot took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Alberto Tafalla, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. 10 minutes into the game, Alberto Tafalla cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 0-1. Aguinaga Nebot was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. In the 15th minute Joel Gaona shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Aguinaga Nebot saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. If Alberto Tafalla had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 16th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. Esmeraldas S.C.'s Aguinaga Nebot played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Alberto Tafalla in the 16th minute of play. Dante Lacasa made a fantastic save in the 21st minute, when Damian Maftei sent off a good shot on target. If Martinez Cines had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 23rd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Dante Lacasa made a fantastic save in the 25th minute, when Damian Maftei sent off a good shot on target. Aguinaga Nebot showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Lautaro Mancebo in the 26th minute of the match. Damian Maftei's shot straight on target was not completely harmless. The ball had pretty good speed, but Dante Lacasa firmly grabbed it by the left post. Aguinaga Nebot showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Lautaro Mancebo in the 29th minute of the match. In the 31st minute, Esmeraldas S.C.'s İbrahim Volkan dribbled the ball into the box and hit a shot with the outside of his foot, sending the keeper the wrong way. 1-1. Aguinaga Nebot made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Alberto Tafalla in the 35th minute of play. Esmeraldas S.C. were awarded a corner in the 39th minute after Mexico's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Stefanos Terzopoulos took the corner. Esmeraldas S.C.'s Stefanos Terzopoulos 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. A collision led to Esmeraldas S.C. getting a freekick after 40 minutes play. Yan Zhou Xuan hit a great ball. After a defensive mix-up in Esmeraldas S.C.'s zone, Lautaro Mancebo stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Aguinaga Nebot came out of the goal and Lautaro Mancebo tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. The fans had the chance to grab some refreshments as the whistle went for half-time. The score stood at 1-1 after a close first half.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. İbrahim Volkan was the one to do the kick off. Alberto Tafalla came free with the goalkeeper in the 55th minute of the match, and shot straight on target. The shot was a little too simple and Aguinaga Nebot could save by the left post. After taking down the ball on Mexico's corner Joel Gaona fired away a hard shot, but the defenders efficiently covered the most dangerous angles and Aguinaga Nebot quite easily take care of the ball. With a little luck, Esmeraldas S.C.'s Aguinaga Nebot got control of the ball when Luca Zorita tried to sneak it across the goal line. Alberto Tafalla could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 60th minute of the match, but Aguinaga Nebot made a huge save. After some careless play in the Mexico defense, Stefanos Terzopoulos kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Dante Lacasa. The Mexico fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Dante Lacasa should have stopped the shot. Esmeraldas S.C. made a substitution. Daniel Castillo replaced Martinez Cines. Lautaro Mancebo could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 67th minute of the match, but Aguinaga Nebot made a huge save. Aguinaga Nebot made a fantastic save in the 68th minute, when Alberto Tafalla sent off a good shot on target. Dante Lacasa made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from İbrahim Volkan in the 69th minute of play. When Luca Zorita, who was free, got the in front of the goal in the 71 minute he wasn't focused and tipped the ball just over the goal. The Aguinaga Nebot was delighted since the ball would have got in if it had gone under the crossbar. 79 minutes into the match, Damian Maftei notched a goal, 3-1, to the right of Mexico's Dante Lacasa. Dante Lacasa was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. The supporters of Mexico booed when Esmeraldas S.C. was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 84 match minutes in a wonderful position. Celso Villamediana didn't get a good kick on the ball. In the 87th minute the ball was on its way in behind Esmeraldas S.C.'s goalkeeper Aguinaga Nebot, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. If Lautaro Mancebo had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 91st 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 Stefanos Terzopoulos in the 93rd minute of play. 94 minutes into the match, Mexico's goal looked a bit too open when Stefanos Terzopoulos came free, but Dante Lacasa reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After a rather tough play, Esmeraldas S.C.'s Yan Zhou Xuan got a free kick in the 95th minute. For all the effort they put into the match, the Mexico players left disappointed. They had fought hard, but couldn't break down the home team's defense. The match ended in a win for Esmeraldas S.C..