Challenge

Frontera AFC Stadium
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 5th minute Alberto Tafalla shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Agustín Rossi saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. 8 minutes into the match, Frontera AFC's goal looked a bit too open when Lautaro Mancebo came free, but Agustín Rossi reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. 9 minutes into the match, Frontera AFC's goal looked a bit too open when Joel Gaona came free, but Agustín Rossi reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Dante Lacasa made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Alan Varela in the 11th minute of play. In the 12th minute, Felix Luque hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. A collision led to Frontera AFC getting a freekick after 13 minutes play. Martin Lain hit a great ball. In the 15th minute Alberto Tafalla shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Agustín Rossi saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Alberto Tafalla fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 16th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Agustín Rossi having to interfere. 19 minutes into the match, Mexico's goalkeeper Dante Lacasa had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Silvestre Cisco. Agustín Rossi 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 20th minute. After a rather tough play, Mexico's Felix Luque got a free kick in the 21st minute. An unexpectedly hard shot by Silvestre Cisco in the 22nd minute of play forced Mexico's goalkeeper Dante Lacasa to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Dante Lacasa showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Naohiro Takahara in the 29th minute of the match. In the 31st minute Mexico were awarded a corner. Joel Gaona went to the cornerflag to take it. Alberto Tafalla sent away a hard shot on goal in the 33rd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. An unexpectedly hard shot by Naohiro Takahara in the 34th minute of play forced Mexico's goalkeeper Dante Lacasa to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Dante Lacasa came out of the goal in the 37th minute to try and stop a shot by Frontera AFC's Rodrigo Palacio. But to his dismay, Rodrigo Palacio quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 1-0. Frontera AFC's Agustín Rossi played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Luca Zorita in the 40th minute of play. Luca Rouco charged in rather forcefully in the 41st minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Luca Rouco the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. In the 41st match minute, Mexico was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Luca Rouco to maneuver through the defense. Dante Lacasa made a fantastic save in the 43rd minute, when Walter Gaitán sent off a good shot on target.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Naohiro Takahara to make the kick off. In the 51st minute Joel Gaona shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Agustín Rossi saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. After 53 played minutes Frontera AFC got a freekick which was hit by Fabian Jaroszewicz. After a defensive mix-up in Frontera AFC's zone, Lautaro Mancebo stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Agustín Rossi came out of the goal and Lautaro Mancebo tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Frontera AFC's Gonzalo Pacifico was substituted for Celso Betadur. If Lautaro Mancebo had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 58th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Lautaro Mancebo could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 64th minute of the match, but Agustín Rossi made a huge save. Alberto Tafalla's shot when he came free in front of the goal in the 69thth minute, Agustín Rossi skillfully showed off with a save to what seemed to be an obvious goal. In the 71st minute, Alan Varela hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Agustín Rossi made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Joel Gaona in the 73rd minute of play. 73 minutes into the match, Joel Gaona notched a goal, 1-1, to the right of Frontera AFC's Agustín Rossi. Agustín Rossi was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. Frontera AFC's Agustín Rossi played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Alberto Tafalla in the 77th minute of play. 79 minutes into the match, Mexico's goal looked a bit too open when Rodrigo Palacio came free, but Dante Lacasa reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. 86 minutes into the match, Joel Gaona dribbled the ball past the defender and swiftly kicked the ball to the left of Agustín Rossi, 1-2. Lautaro Mancebo struck a weak shot in the 89th minute. Agustín Rossi didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Mexico. Dante Lacasa showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Alan Varela in the 90th minute of the match. Joel Gaona fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 94th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Agustín Rossi having to interfere. In the 96th minute Alberto Tafalla shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Agustín Rossi saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. 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.