Challenge

Ghencea
Spectators: 40 (Terracing: 31, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Joel Gaona started the match with the kick off. In the 2nd minute Ionuț Drumeș 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. In the 4th minute, Traian Constantinescu hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. 7 minutes into the match, Mexico's goal looked a bit too open when Gheorghe Cunea came free, but Dante Lacasa reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 11th minute of the match, Aurel Pandrea got a very nice opportunity to score, but Dante Lacasa was well-placed and pushed the ball away from the goal at the left post. An unexpectedly hard shot by Alberto Tafalla in the 13th minute of play forced Steaua Bucuresti's goalkeeper Radu Isaicu to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Radu Isaicu showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Lautaro Mancebo, who was totally free with the ball in the 14th minute. Dante Lacasa made an important save on a dangerous shot by Gheorghe Cunea in the 16th minute. Dante Lacasa took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Ionuț Drumeș, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. If Joel Gaona had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 22nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Dante Lacasa made a fantastic save in the 23rd minute, when Gheorghe Cunea sent off a good shot on target. Ferdinand Vasiliu hit a great freekick 28 minutes into the match. The audience thought a goal was coming when Gheorghe Cunea got free with Dante Lacasa in the 33rd minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. An unexpectedly hard shot by Ionuț Drumeș in the 36th minute of play forced Mexico's goalkeeper Dante Lacasa to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Nae Matei kicked well hit freekick during the 36th minute of the match. Radu Isaicu made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Alberto Tafalla in the 37th minute of play. In the 38th minute Mexico were awarded a corner. Joel Gaona went to the cornerflag to take it. Luca Zorita was in a good position and managed to take a shot, but he missed just to the outside of the post. If Lautaro Mancebo had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 42nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Gheorghe Cunea kicked well hit freekick during the 47th minute of the match. The Steaua Bucuresti players were disheartened as they walked off the pitch after the first half. Mexico were winning 0-1.

The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Gheorghe Cunea during the 54th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. After a rather tough play, Steaua Bucuresti's Gheorghe Cunea got a free kick in the 54th minute. 57 minutes into the match, Steaua Bucuresti's goalkeeper Radu Isaicu had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Lautaro Mancebo. Facundo Cadaval hit a great freekick 61 minutes into the match. With a little luck, Steaua Bucuresti's Radu Isaicu got control of the ball when Alberto Tafalla tried to sneak it across the goal line. After 67 minutes Steaua Bucuresti'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. A very nice done corner allowed Alberto Tafalla to score against Radu Isaicu in Steaua Bucuresti's goal. 0-2 after 67 minutes. Radu Isaicu showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Joel Gaona in the 70th minute of the match. A nice corner shot did that Joel Gaona got away a dangerous shot. Despite this Radu Isaicu quite easily got ahold of the ball to make the save. Iulian Ciuvică kicked well hit freekick during the 73rd minute of the match. Joel Gaona recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 74th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. An unexpectedly hard shot by Luca Zorita in the 76th minute of play forced Steaua Bucuresti's goalkeeper Radu Isaicu to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Radu Isaicu made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Joel Gaona in the 79th minute of play. In the 81st minute of the match, Lautaro Mancebo got a very nice opportunity to score, but Radu Isaicu was well-placed and pushed the ball away from the goal at the left post. After a rather tough play, Steaua Bucuresti's Emil Cernea got a free kick in the 86th minute. Radu Isaicu was in exellent shape and made a fantastic save when he, in the 87th minute of the match, managed to get hold of the ball after a long shot from Joel Gaona. In the 88th minute Mexico were awarded a corner. Joel Gaona went to the cornerflag to take it. Joel Gaona made a great header on Mexico's corner, it was just that Steaua Bucuresti's Radu Isaicu managed to reach the ball for a save. Steaua Bucuresti's Radu Isaicu played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Alberto Tafalla in the 90th minute of play. The corner led to Mexico's Facundo Cadaval getting away a dangerous shot that went just outside the goal. In the 95th minute of the match Ferdinand Vasiliu sent off a long shot with destination to the right of the goalkeeper, but Dante Lacasa skillfully saved the ball. Mexico played a much better game than Steaua Bucuresti and deserved their victory. The Steaua Bucuresti players were clearly disappointed as they left the ground.