Challenge

Estadio Azteca
Spectators: 47 (Terracing: 36, Seating: 11, VIP seats: 0) The mood of the audience was pleasant when Joel Gaona made the kick off which started today's match. Menios Chloros had in the 4thth minute some difficulties stopping Joel Gaona's well aimed penalty as it nearly passed him on his left side, but he still managed to hold the ball. 4 minutes into the match, Joel Gaona had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Menios Chloros. Mean Machine's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Joel Gaona was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 1-0. After 10 played minutes Mean Machine got a freekick which was hit by Ermis Xintarianos. In the 11th minute the ball was on its way in behind Mean Machine's goalkeeper Menios Chloros, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. Dante Lacasa showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Miltos Makris in the 13th minute of the match. In the 14th match minute, Mean Machine was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Carles Pujol to maneuver through the defense. Lautaro Mancebo's shot straight on target was not completely harmless. The ball had pretty good speed, but Menios Chloros firmly grabbed it by the left post. After 17 minutes, Nikos Stasinos mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Mean Machine and the Mexico players grew even worse after the yellow card. Nikos Stasinos hit a great freekick 17 minutes into the match. Dante Lacasa made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Nedim Emekli in the 30th minute of play. If Alberto Tafalla had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 33rd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Daniil Bonoris kicked well hit freekick during the 37th minute of the match. An unexpectedly hard shot by Joel Gaona in the 39th minute of play forced Mean Machine's goalkeeper Menios Chloros to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Mexico were awarded a corner in the 40th minute after Mean Machine's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Joel Gaona took the corner. 43 minutes into the match, Joel Gaona had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Menios Chloros. Mean Machine's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Joel Gaona was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 2-0. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Carles Pujol in the 47th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Dante Lacasa prevented the ball from getting in the gole. When the referee blew for the end of the half the home team players were clearly happier, as they went in to the break leading 2-0.

Mexico's Dante Lacasa proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 52nd minute of the match, managed to save Mexico from getting a goal against them. Nedim Emekli'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 53rd minute of play. 56 minutes into the match, Mexico's goal looked a bit too open when Nedim Emekli came free, but Dante Lacasa reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 59th minute, Joel Gaona left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The Mexico fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 3-0. Menios Chloros showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Lautaro Mancebo in the 64th minute of the match. Mean Machine's Luca Milivojević was substituted for Lakis Mantarinakis. Mexico's attacker deliberately struck the ball against an opponent to win a corner for his team. The corner was taken by Joel Gaona in the 67th minute. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Alberto Tafalla in the 68th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Menios Chloros saved Mean Machine from getting behind. In the 69th minute Joel Gaona shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Menios Chloros saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 71st minute, Agnaldo Braga reached a very good position and smashed the ball with a huge effort into the net, just to the left of Dante Lacasa. The goal made the score 3-1. In the 79th play minute Nedim Emekli came free and shot an unsuspected shot which went into goal from the right pole behind a surprised Dante Lacasa. 3-2. Macos Graciani made in the 86th minute of the game a quick throw-in and Alberto Tafalla immediately put the ball in play. After a defensive mix-up in Mean Machine's zone, Alberto Tafalla stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Menios Chloros came out of the goal and Alberto Tafalla tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play.