Challenge

Kyrtas Arena
Spectators: 43 (Terracing: 33, Seating: 10, 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. Babbis Tapinos took the ball and in the 3 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 1-0. After some careless play in the KYRTAKIA ARE BACK!!!!!!!! defense, Joel Gaona kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Loco Higuita. The KYRTAKIA ARE BACK!!!!!!!! fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Loco Higuita should have stopped the shot. Dante Lacasa took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Valeriu Panaitescu, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. An unexpectedly hard shot by Alberto Tafalla in the 13th minute of play forced KYRTAKIA ARE BACK!!!!!!!!'s goalkeeper Loco Higuita to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. The supporters of KYRTAKIA ARE BACK!!!!!!!! booed when Mexico was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 20 match minutes in a wonderful position. Lorenzo Cazalla didn't get a good kick on the ball. In the 22nd minute, one of KYRTAKIA ARE BACK!!!!!!!!:s players had the ball in front of the goal but got pushed and fell. The referee felt it was an obvious case and blew a penalty for KYRTAKIA ARE BACK!!!!!!!!. Loco Higuita had in the 24thth 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. Loco Higuita didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Joel Gaona went, in the 24th minute, to the upper right corner, 1-2 was the resulting score. Loco Higuita showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Joel Gaona, who was totally free with the ball in the 27th minute. The referee gave Mexico a penalty, 30 minutes into the game. The penalty shot was made by Joel Gaona, who made a well placed shot into the net to the right of KYRTAKIA ARE BACK!!!!!!!!'s Loco Higuita. 1-3. KYRTAKIA ARE BACK!!!!!!!!'s Loco Higuita played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Joel Gaona in the 36th minute of play. With a little luck, Mexico's Dante Lacasa got control of the ball when Babbis Tapinos tried to sneak it across the goal line. After a rather tough play, KYRTAKIA ARE BACK!!!!!!!!'s George Vasiloiu got a free kick in the 39th minute. KYRTAKIA ARE BACK!!!!!!!!'s Loco Higuita played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Lautaro Mancebo in the 40th minute of play. Lautaro Mancebo recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 42nd minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Dante Lacasa showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Babbis Tapinos in the 47th minute of the match. Disappointed in the 1-3 score, the home team went to the dressing room to adjust tactics for the second half.

Akis Papagiannopoulos sent away a hard shot on goal in the 56th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. 58 minutes into the match, KYRTAKIA ARE BACK!!!!!!!!'s goal looked a bit too open when Joel Gaona came free, but Loco Higuita reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 61st minute Babbis Tapinos 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. Lautaro Mancebo fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 64th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Loco Higuita having to interfere. In the 69th minute Babbis Tapinos 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 70th minute, Andréas Bryngelsson hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. After a defensive mix-up in KYRTAKIA ARE BACK!!!!!!!!'s zone, Joel Gaona stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Loco Higuita came out of the goal and Joel Gaona tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. If Alberto Tafalla had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 76th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. Lautaro Mancebos short, quick shot in the 81stth minute got Loco Higuita to make great effort and bar the ball away from getting in. The audience thought a goal was coming when Joel Gaona got free with Loco Higuita in the 85th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Felix Luque sent away a hard shot on goal in the 87th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. The audience thought a goal was coming when Luca Zorita got free with Loco Higuita in the 89th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. After 95 played minutes Mexico got a freekick which was hit by Joel Gaona. The Mexico supporters could be heard counting down the last seconds of the match. They errupted in celebration when the whistle blew, knowing Mexico would go home with victory in their luggage after a match that easily could have ended differently.