Challenge

Dragons Nest
Spectators: 51 (Terracing: 39, Seating: 11, VIP seats: 1) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Joel Gaona got the match started through his kick off. Alberto Tafalla took the ball and in the 4 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Kyle Axisa. Kyle Axisa dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 0-1. After having played for 7 minutes, Joel Gaona managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Mexico's supporters crossed their fingers, but Joel Gaona was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. In the 11th minute, Lorenzo Cazalla hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. In the 14th minute Lautaro Mancebo shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Kyle Axisa saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. With a little luck, Mexico's Dante Lacasa got control of the ball when Fabian Borg tried to sneak it across the goal line. After a rather tough play, Sliema Dragons FC's Colin Pullicino Orlando got a free kick in the 20th minute. Lautaro Mancebo sent away a hard shot on goal in the 21st minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. An unexpectedly hard shot by Alberto Tafalla in the 27th minute of play forced Sliema Dragons FC's goalkeeper Kyle Axisa to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Arthur Facciol charged in rather forcefully in the 29th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Arthur Facciol the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. In the 30th minute, Arthur Facciol hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Joel Gaona sent away a hard shot on goal in the 32nd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Kyle Axisa took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Alberto Tafalla, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. The audience thought a goal was coming when Vince Gauci got free with Dante Lacasa in the 35th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. The supporters of Mexico booed when Sliema Dragons FC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 36 match minutes in a wonderful position. Arthur Facciol didn't get a good kick on the ball. Christian Scalpello charged in rather forcefully in the 37th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Christian Scalpello the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. The supporters of Mexico booed when Sliema Dragons FC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 37 match minutes in a wonderful position. Christian Scalpello didn't get a good kick on the ball. 38 minutes into the match, Sliema Dragons FC's goal looked a bit too open when Joel Gaona came free, but Kyle Axisa reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Sliema Dragons FC's Kyle Axisa played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Lautaro Mancebo in the 39th minute of play. A collision led to Sliema Dragons FC getting a freekick after 43 minutes play. Patrick Buttigieg hit a great ball. Lautaro Mancebo received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 46th minute. Kyle Axisa tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. In the 47th minute Alberto Tafalla shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Kyle Axisa saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Even after changing tactics the home team jogged off the field with a 0-1 deficit. They would have to work harder if they wanted to turn things around in the second half.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Vince Gauci to make the kick off. 52 minutes into the match, Mexico's Alberto Tafalla sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Kyle Axisa narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Luca Rouco could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 53rd minute of the match, but Kyle Axisa made a huge save. A collision led to Sliema Dragons FC getting a freekick after 55 minutes play. Christian Scalpello hit a great ball. Sliema Dragons FC's Robert Pullicino was substituted for Ian Depasquale. After 59 played minutes Joel Gaona rounded Sliema Dragons FC's defense and shot a beautiful shot into goal via left pole - 0-2. 65 minutes into the match, Sliema Dragons FC's goal looked a bit too open when Joel Gaona came free, but Kyle Axisa reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. 68 minutes into the match, Sliema Dragons FC's goalkeeper Kyle Axisa had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Joel Gaona. Alberto Tafalla received a nice pass, split the defenders, and ran untouched towards the goal. Kyle Axisa came out and tried to block the shot, but Alberto Tafalla slotted it home off the left post making it 0-3 in the 69th minute. In the 72nd minute, Neil Deguara hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Sliema Dragons FC's Kyle Axisa proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 73rd minute of the match, managed to save Sliema Dragons FC from getting a goal against them. Joel Gaona struck a weak shot in the 74th minute. Kyle Axisa didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Mexico. Sliema Dragons FC's Kyle Axisa proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 76th minute of the match, managed to save Sliema Dragons FC from getting a goal against them. In the 80th 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. 0-4. After some fancy dribbling in the 86th minute, Alberto Tafalla managed to get in a good position for a shot. Mexico's supporters rose to their feet, but Alberto Tafalla was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Kyle Axisa breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Through an outstanding action, after 87 minutes, Kyle Axisa successfully got his hands on the ball before it slid into the goal at the right post. In the 88th minute the ball was on its way in behind Sliema Dragons FC's goalkeeper Kyle Axisa, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. Joel Gaona recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 95th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. When the match was over Mexico could go home with a victory in their luggage, having controlled the game far better than Sliema Dragons FC throughout the match.