Challenge

Crystal Arena
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. Dante Lacasa made an important save on a dangerous shot by Carlos-Armando Valderrama in the 3rd minute. An unexpectedly hard shot by Gwidon Patora in the 4th minute of play forced Mexico's goalkeeper Dante Lacasa to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Marcos Lama showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Alberto Tafalla, who was totally free with the ball in the 8th minute. Dante Lacasa showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Gwidon Patora in the 9th minute of the match. In the 10th minute, Alberto Tafalla ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Marcos Lama was frozen by the shot and now it was 0-1. After 13 played minutes Veth Crystals got a freekick which was hit by Ludomir Radzyminski. Dante Lacasa took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Gwidon Patora, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. 18 minutes into the match, Carlos-Armando Valderrama dribbled the ball past the defender and swiftly kicked the ball to the left of Dante Lacasa, 1-1. In the 22ndth minute of the game He Lin Di who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Mexico's Dante Lacasa was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. Veth Crystals's Marcos Lama played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Lautaro Mancebo in the 27th minute of play. Alberto Tafalla sent away a hard shot on goal in the 29th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. An unexpectedly hard shot by Joel Gaona in the 32nd minute of play forced Veth Crystals's goalkeeper Marcos Lama to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. 38 minutes into the match, Veth Crystals's goal looked a bit too open when Lautaro Mancebo came free, but Marcos Lama reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. An unexpectedly hard shot by Gwidon Patora in the 41st minute of play forced Mexico's goalkeeper Dante Lacasa to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. 46 minutes into the game, Facundo Cadaval was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Mexico's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Veth Crystals the free kick. In the 46th match minute, Mexico was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Facundo Cadaval to maneuver through the defense. In the 47th minute, Song Xing got an opportunity to score, but he didn't get a solid hit on the ball and ended up kicking it wide of the goal. The first half was very even, with the score at 1-1 when the whistle went for half-time. The players welcomed the break and quickly retired to the dressing rooms.

The wind increased when Gwidon Patora made the kick off in the second half. If He Lin Di had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 51st minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Alberto Tafalla in the 65th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Marcos Lama saved Veth Crystals from getting behind. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Carlos-Armando Valderrama in the 76th 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. In the 78th minute Joel Gaona shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Marcos Lama saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Gwidon Patora kicked well hit freekick during the 82nd minute of the match. Alberto Tafalla sent away a hard shot on goal in the 83rd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. An unexpectedly hard shot by Alberto Tafalla in the 90th minute of play forced Veth Crystals's goalkeeper Marcos Lama to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Dante Lacasa didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Carlos-Armando Valderrama went, in the 91st minute, to the upper right corner, 2-1 was the resulting score.