Challenge

The Duck Pond
Spectators: 44 (Terracing: 34, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) The mood of the audience was pleasant when Joel Gaona made the kick off which started today's match. In the 4th minute, Kees Zeydeveld hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Sly Collier made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Alberto Tafalla in the 5th minute of play. In the 8th minute Stephen Clapham 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. Stickleback Utd Xl were awarded a corner in the 9th minute after Mexico's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Edvard Bure took the corner. The corner ended in Fredrik Berggren almost managing to get the ball behind the net, but Mexico's Dante Lacasa did a great save. 15 minutes into the match, Stickleback Utd Xl's goal looked a bit too open when Alberto Tafalla came free, but Sly Collier reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. The supporters of Stickleback Utd Xl booed when Mexico was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 19 match minutes in a wonderful position. Felix Luque didn't get a good kick on the ball. In the 20th minute the ball was on its way in behind Mexico's goalkeeper Dante Lacasa, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. The audience was convinced that Edvard Bure's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Dante Lacasa was relentless in the 22nd minute of the game. In the 23rd minute, Alberto Tafalla left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The Mexico fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 0-1. The audience was convinced that Lautaro Mancebo's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Sly Collier was relentless in the 27th minute of the game. In the 29th minute of the match, Silvester Odell tried to roll the ball into the goal by the right post, but Dante Lacasa saw his intentions and got control of the ball before it passed the line. In the 34th play minute Edvard Bure came free and shot an unsuspected shot which went into goal from the right pole behind a surprised Dante Lacasa. 1-1. Mexico's Dante Lacasa proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 39th minute of the match, managed to save Mexico from getting a goal against them. In the 46th match minute, Mexico was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Lorenzo Cazalla to maneuver through the defense. After 48 minutes, Facundo Cadaval mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Mexico and the Stickleback Utd Xl players grew even worse after the yellow card. After 49 played minutes Mexico got a freekick which was hit by Facundo Cadaval. Edvard Bure's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Dante Lacasa read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 50th minute of 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.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Edvard Bure to make the kick off. When Joel Gaona came up free with the goalie in the 58th minute, the Mexico 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 Joel Gaona couldn't finish the play. Mexico's Joel Gaona got a good chance for a goal in the 61st minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Lautaro Mancebo sent away a hard shot on goal in the 62nd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Joel Gaona fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 69th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Sly Collier having to interfere. In the 74th minute of the match Mexico got a corner. Stickleback Utd Xl's goalie ran out to the linesman to protest the call, but the linesman resolutely pointed his flag at the cornerflag. Joel Gaona ran over to the corner to take the kick. The corner led Mexico's Joel Gaona to fire away a dangerous shot which Sly Collier despite some difficulties managed to get hold on the ball. An unexpectedly hard shot by Joel Gaona in the 75th minute of play forced Stickleback Utd Xl's goalkeeper Sly Collier to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Wilson Piazza kicked well hit freekick during the 76th minute of the match. After 77 played minutes, Mexico's Joel Gaona shot from a long distance, and at first it looked like the ball was going into the goal, but the goalkeeper Sly Collier came through and got his fingers on the ball before it flew over the goal line. He then quickly gripped the ball tighter before the forwards in Mexico reached it. Dante Lacasa made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Stephen Clapham in the 79th minute of play. Dante Lacasa showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Edvard Bure in the 80th minute of the match. Sly Collier 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 referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Benji Browne during the 93rd minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. After 94 played minutes Stickleback Utd Xl got a freekick which was hit by Benji Browne. Rich Thorn charged in rather forcefully in the 97th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Rich Thorn the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. In the 97th minute, Rich Thorn hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. When the final whistle was heard the away supporters stood up and showed their joy. Mexico had managed to secure a win in what was a close match throughout.