Challenge

Dealu Florilor
Spectators: 50 (Terracing: 38, Seating: 11, VIP seats: 1) Joel Gaona started the match with the kick off in front of an excited audience. An unexpectedly hard shot by Luca Zorita in the 5th minute of play forced Phoenix Baia-Mare -MM-'s goalkeeper Valer Nuțu to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. After taking down the ball on Mexico's corner Leonardo Leoz fired away a hard shot, but the defenders efficiently covered the most dangerous angles and Valer Nuțu quite easily take care of the ball. After 8 minutes Phoenix Baia-Mare -MM-'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. Valer Nuțu took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Lautaro Mancebo, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. 13 minutes into the match, Phoenix Baia-Mare -MM-'s goal looked a bit too open when Alberto Tafalla came free, but Valer Nuțu reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Valer Nuțu showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Alberto Tafalla in the 14th minute of the match. Mexico's Dante Lacasa played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Petre Benga in the 17th minute of play. Petre Benga succeeded to score despite a near miss that spronge from right pole into the goal to 1-0 in the 17th playminute. Valer Nuțu showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Lautaro Mancebo in the 22nd minute of the match. With 23 minutes on the clock, Lorenzo Cazalla commited a dangerous tackle. The referee had no choice but to show him the red card. The goalkeeper, Dante Lacasa, was totally fooled by Phoenix Baia-Mare -MM-'s Mădălin Arjoca, who 25 minutes into the game made a penalty shot that went in on the goalkeeper's left side. After a rather tough play, Phoenix Baia-Mare -MM-'s Denis Bourceanu got a free kick in the 28th minute. 30 minutes into the game, Mexico's Luca Zorita nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Valer Nuțu made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 2-1. Eliodor Bântu hit a great freekick 34 minutes into the match. Joel Gaona recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 34th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Valer Nuțu made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Alberto Tafalla in the 42nd minute of play. 42 minutes into the game, Mexico's Alberto Tafalla nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Valer Nuțu made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 2-2. Valer Nuțu made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Alberto Tafalla in the 45th minute of play. The first half was very even, with the score at 2-2 when the whistle went for half-time. The players welcomed the break and quickly retired to the dressing rooms.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Petre Benga to make the kick off. Lautaro Mancebo's shot straight on target was not completely harmless. The ball had pretty good speed, but Valer Nuțu firmly grabbed it by the left post. Dante Lacasa stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Maxim Strugure's shot from short distance in the 53rd minute. In the 55th minute of the match, Alberto Tafalla got a very nice opportunity to score, but Valer Nuțu was well-placed and pushed the ball away from the goal at the left post. In the 56th minute of the match Mexico got a corner. Phoenix Baia-Mare -MM-'s goalie ran out to the linesman to protest the call, but the linesman resolutely pointed his flag at the cornerflag. Joel Gaona ran over to the corner to take the kick. Valer Nuțu made an important save on a dangerous shot by Lautaro Mancebo in the 58th minute. In the 61st minute, Mexico's Luca Zorita dribbled the ball into the box and hit a shot with the outside of his foot, sending the keeper the wrong way. 2-3. Phoenix Baia-Mare -MM-'s Valer Nuțu played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Alberto Tafalla in the 64th minute of play. Valer Nuțu showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Luca Zorita, who was totally free with the ball in the 71st minute. Alberto Tafalla received a nice pass, split the defenders, and ran untouched towards the goal. Valer Nuțu came out and tried to block the shot, but Alberto Tafalla slotted it home off the left post making it 2-4 in the 75th minute. If Luca Zorita had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 78th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Valer Nuțu made a fantastic save in the 85th minute, when Alberto Tafalla sent off a good shot on target. 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 86th minute. The corner ended in Joel Gaona almost managing to get the ball behind the net, but Phoenix Baia-Mare -MM-'s Valer Nuțu did a great save. Valer Nuțu made an important save on a dangerous shot by Lautaro Mancebo in the 90th minute. When the match was over Mexico could go home with a victory in their luggage, having controlled the game far better than Phoenix Baia-Mare -MM- throughout the match.