Challenge

Ionut Andrei
Spectators: 43 (Terracing: 33, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Remigio Vigil took the kick off in the first half of the match. Magne Wenerdahl sent away a hard shot on goal in the 6th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Codruț Hanganu stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Lautaro Mancebo's shot from short distance in the 8th minute. 10 minutes into the match, Mexico's Alberto Tafalla sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Codruț Hanganu narrowly saved just below the crossbar. The supporters of White&Blue Lions-Stiinta- booed when Mexico was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 14 match minutes in a wonderful position. Luca Zorita didn't get a good kick on the ball. Dante Lacasa showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Cheng Zhan Sheng in the 15th minute of the match. After 16 played minutes White&Blue Lions-Stiinta- got a freekick which was hit by Zhang Hong Ke. If Lautaro Mancebo had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 17th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 21st minute, White&Blue Lions-Stiinta-'s Remigio Vigil dribbled the ball into the box and hit a shot with the outside of his foot, sending the keeper the wrong way. 1-0. Mexico's attacker deliberately struck the ball against an opponent to win a corner for his team. The corner was taken by Joel Gaona in the 28th minute. Luca Zorita was in a good position and managed to take a shot, but he missed just to the outside of the post. Codruț Hanganu took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Lautaro Mancebo, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. White&Blue Lions-Stiinta-'s Codruț Hanganu played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Joel Gaona in the 34th minute of play. Mexico were awarded a corner in the 35th minute after White&Blue Lions-Stiinta-'s defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Joel Gaona took the corner. Joel Gaona made a great header on Mexico's corner, it was just that White&Blue Lions-Stiinta-'s Codruț Hanganu managed to reach the ball for a save. Dante Lacasa took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Xiao Fan Jing, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Remigio Vigil had several of the Mexico's defenders around him in the penalty area when he, after 39 minutes of play, received a pass and succeeded in some way to shoot a shot which went straight ahead into goal. This resulted in a 2-0 score and a disappointed Dante Lacasa as he didn't even see the shot coming. George Deac hit a great freekick 41 minutes into the match. Codruț Hanganu made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Lautaro Mancebo in the 42nd minute of play. Joel Gaona fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 44th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Codruț Hanganu having to interfere. The audience thought a goal was coming when Xiao Fan Jing got free with Dante Lacasa in the 46th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. When the referee blew for the end of the half the home team players were clearly happier, as they went in to the break leading 2-0.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Joel Gaona to strike the kick off in the second half. After some careless play in the White&Blue Lions-Stiinta- defense, Luca Zorita kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Codruț Hanganu. The White&Blue Lions-Stiinta- fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Codruț Hanganu should have stopped the shot. Luca Zorita fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 57th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Codruț Hanganu having to interfere. In the 66th minute of the match, Lautaro Mancebo tried to roll the ball into the goal by the right post, but Codruț Hanganu saw his intentions and got control of the ball before it passed the line. After a defensive mix-up in White&Blue Lions-Stiinta-'s zone, Luca Zorita stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Codruț Hanganu came out of the goal and Luca Zorita tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Mexico's Dante Lacasa played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Cheng Zhan Sheng in the 75th minute of play. Mexico's Dante Lacasa played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Cheng Zhan Sheng in the 76th minute of play. White&Blue Lions-Stiinta- were awarded a corner in the 76th minute after Mexico's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Cheng Zhan Sheng took the corner. The corner ended in Cheng Zhan Sheng almost managing to get the ball behind the net, but Mexico's Dante Lacasa did a great save. When Xiao Fan Jing came up free with the goalie in the 81st minute, the White&Blue Lions-Stiinta- 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 Xiao Fan Jing couldn't finish the play. Dante Lacasa made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Cheng Zhan Sheng in the 83rd minute of play. 86 minutes into the game, White&Blue Lions-Stiinta-'s Cheng Zhan Sheng nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Dante Lacasa made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 3-1. White&Blue Lions-Stiinta-'s fans were exulted and cheered after their team won in a match that could easily have gone the other way.