Challenge

MAURO ARENA
Spectators: 40 (Terracing: 31, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) The mood of the audience was pleasant when Tomas Berganza made the kick off which started today's match. The supporters of Mauro booed when Panama was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 4 match minutes in a wonderful position. Matthew Garrido didn't get a good kick on the ball. After some fancy dribbling in the 7th minute, Tomas Berganza managed to get in a good position for a shot. Panama's supporters rose to their feet, but Tomas Berganza was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Lu Hong Qiang breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. In the 8th minute, Mauro's Nicola Zalewski ran free of his marker and smoothly shot the ball into the goal behind Marcos Cotilla. Marcos Cotilla yelled at his defense, as they had left him out to dry. 1-0. 10 minutes into the game, Islam Slimani was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Mauro's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Panama the free kick. 16 minutes into the match, Mauro's goal looked a bit too open when Tomas Berganza came free, but Lu Hong Qiang reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Lu Hong Qiang came out of the goal in the 18th minute to try and stop a shot by Panama's Tomas Berganza. But to his dismay, Tomas Berganza quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 1-1. In the 21st minute the ball was on its way in behind Mauro's goalkeeper Lu Hong Qiang, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. Panama's Marcos Cotilla proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 23rd minute of the match, managed to save Panama from getting a goal against them. With a little luck, Panama's Marcos Cotilla got control of the ball when Teofil Bara tried to sneak it across the goal line. After having played for 31 minutes, Abraham Alguacil managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Panama's supporters crossed their fingers, but Abraham Alguacil was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Isidoro Sarmiento might have been able to make a better finish in the 33rd minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Lu Hong Qiang. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Isidoro Sarmiento ran back to his position shaking his head. Marcos Cotilla made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Islam Slimani in the 42nd minute of play. If Tomas Berganza had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 44th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. When Tomas Berganza came up free with the goalie in the 46th minute, the Panama fans jumped to their feet. But the shot missed the goal by a fraction of an inch, and the fans sat back down disappointed that Tomas Berganza couldn't finish the play. After the first half the score was level. The break gave the players a chance to catch their breath, whilst the managers went over the tactics with them again.

The wind increased when Islam Slimani made the kick off in the second half. Isidoro Sarmiento fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 53rd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Lu Hong Qiang having to interfere. In the 55th minute, Isidoro Sarmiento 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. In the 57th minute, Abraham Alguacil 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. In the 60th match minute, Mauro was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Stasio Przebendowski to maneuver through the defense. In the 61st minute, Tomas Berganza made a precise shot to the right of Lu Hong Qiang. Mauro's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 1-2. 64 minutes into the game, Teofil Bara cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 2-2. Marcos Cotilla was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. Marcos Cotilla came out of the goal in the 68th minute to try and stop a shot by Mauro's Teofil Bara. But to his dismay, Teofil Bara quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 3-2. Mauro's Adam Zacharczyk was substituted for Zbyszek Marud. 73 minutes into the match, Panama's goal looked a bit too open when Islam Slimani came free, but Marcos Cotilla reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Mauro's Lu Hong Qiang played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Isidoro Sarmiento in the 77th minute of play. If Tomas Berganza had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 80th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Abraham Alguacil sent away a hard shot on goal in the 87th minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. In the 90th minute, Islam Slimani ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Marcos Cotilla was frozen by the shot and now it was 4-2. Teofil Bara kicked well hit freekick during the 93rd minute of the match. The Mauro support was delighted with a win in a match that could easily have ended differently.