Challenge

Gigante de Ardiles
Spectators: 40 (Terracing: 31, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when Donato Venerando kicked off to start the match. With a little luck, Mexico's Dante Lacasa got control of the ball when Cristo Basajaun tried to sneak it across the goal line. After a rather tough play, Mexico's Lautaro Mancebo got a free kick in the 6th minute. Mexico were awarded a corner in the 11th minute after Ardiles's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Joel Gaona took the corner. An unexpectedly hard shot by Alberto Tafalla in the 19th minute of play forced Ardiles's goalkeeper Erik Kassentoft to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 25th minute, Ardiles's Donato Venerando dribbled the ball into the box and hit a shot with the outside of his foot, sending the keeper the wrong way. 1-0. In the 29th minute Joel Gaona shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Erik Kassentoft saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Dante Lacasa took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Jimeno Abastas, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. When Mexico's Facundo Cadaval, in the 38th minute, received a pass right in front of the net, it looked like a certain goal, but his shot went outside. A wasted opportunity for Mexico. Felipe Nuno kicked well hit freekick during the 40th minute of the match. After a defensive mix-up in Ardiles's zone, Lautaro Mancebo stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Erik Kassentoft 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. Erik Kassentoft made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Luca Zorita in the 45th minute of play. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Joel Gaona in the 46th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Erik Kassentoft 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 1-0.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Joel Gaona was the one to do the kick off. Erik Kassentoft was out of position in the 50 minute of play, and Lautaro Mancebo capitalized on the mistake with a soft shot into the goal. Lautaro Mancebo really showed his touch with that goal: 1-1. Indiana Jones took the ball and in the 53 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Dante Lacasa. Dante Lacasa dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 2-1. Erik Kassentoft made an important save on a dangerous shot by Lautaro Mancebo in the 56th minute. Lautaro Mancebo's shot straight on target was not completely harmless. The ball had pretty good speed, but Erik Kassentoft firmly grabbed it by the left post. Ardiles's Erik Kassentoft played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Joel Gaona in the 65th minute of play. After 66 minutes Ardiles's defender was forced to head the ball over the line for a corner. It was Joel Gaona who took care of the corner kick. Joel Gaona made a great header on Mexico's corner, it was just that Ardiles's Erik Kassentoft managed to reach the ball for a save. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Lautaro Mancebo in the 69th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Erik Kassentoft prevented the ball from getting in the gole. Dante Lacasa took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Donato Venerando, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Joel Gaona received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 71st minute. Erik Kassentoft tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. After 73 minutes, Lautaro Mancebo made it 2-2 with a short kick to the right side. Ardiles's Erik Kassentoft tried to save the shot but he was too slow in reacting to the shot. Dante Lacasa took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Indiana Jones, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Lautaro Mancebo's shot straight on target was not completely harmless. The ball had pretty good speed, but Erik Kassentoft firmly grabbed it by the left post. Erik Kassentoft showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Joel Gaona in the 84th minute of the match. 85 minutes into the match, Ardiles's goal looked a bit too open when Alberto Tafalla came free, but Erik Kassentoft reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. 87 minutes into the game, Luca Zorita cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 2-3. Erik Kassentoft was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. Ardiles made a substitution. Feliberto Ramirez replaced Indiana Jones. In the 92nd minute, Mexico's Joel Gaona dribbled the ball into the box and hit a shot with the outside of his foot, sending the keeper the wrong way. 2-4. Dante Lacasa showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Feliberto Ramirez in the 95th minute of the match. When the final whistle sounded Mexico left the ground with the victory after a much better performance than Ardiles.