Challenge

Lions Den
Spectators: 43 (Terracing: 33, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Şükür Hagi started the match with the kick off. Grant Blacknell made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Alberto Tafalla in the 7th minute of play. The supporters of Mexico booed when Leicester Lions was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 8 match minutes in a wonderful position. Patryk Plučinský didn't get a good kick on the ball. Lautaro Mancebo fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 9th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Grant Blacknell having to interfere. After 13 minutes of play, Mexico's Alberto Tafalla made it 0-1 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Grant Blacknell was left in no man's land by his defense there! Grant Blacknell took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Lautaro Mancebo, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 26th minute, Camron Rhodes hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. In the 27th minute, Joel Gaona 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: 1-2. 30 minutes into the match, Camron Rhodes dribbled the ball past the defender and swiftly kicked the ball to the left of Dante Lacasa, 2-2. Leicester Lions were awarded a corner in the 37th minute after Mexico's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Camron Rhodes took the corner. Leicester Lions's Camron Rhodes was first on the ball when the corner was shot and he dangerously headed the ball towards goal, but Dante Lacasa in the goal jumped up to prevent it from getting in. Sebastien Clifford's shot when he came free in front of the goal in the 37thth minute, Dante Lacasa skillfully showed off with a save to what seemed to be an obvious goal. 39 minutes into the match, Leicester Lions's goal looked a bit too open when Alberto Tafalla came free, but Grant Blacknell reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After a rather tough play, Leicester Lions's Tony Cheeseman got a free kick in the 42nd minute. After a very even first half the match was still tied. The players went to their respective dressing rooms to discuss the tactics for the second half.

The wind increased when Joel Gaona made the kick off in the second half. Dante Lacasa showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Camron Rhodes in the 59th minute of the match. Grant Blacknell showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Alberto Tafalla, who was totally free with the ball in the 60th minute. 64 minutes into the match, Leicester Lions's goal looked a bit too open when Alberto Tafalla came free, but Grant Blacknell reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Joel Gaona sent away a hard shot on goal in the 67th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Leicester Lions's Jack Sharp was substituted for Alexander Cheetham. The referee felt a red card was in order, 71 minutes into the game, when Patryk Plučinský put in a rough tackle. After 70 minutes of play, the referee blew the whistle. It was a penalty for Leicester Lions! After having played for 76 minutes, Alberto Tafalla managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Mexico's supporters crossed their fingers, but Alberto Tafalla was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Grant Blacknell showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Alberto Tafalla, who was totally free with the ball in the 77th minute. Lorenzo Cazalla kicked well hit freekick during the 79th minute of the match. An unexpectedly hard shot by Luca Zorita in the 86th minute of play forced Leicester Lions's goalkeeper Grant Blacknell to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. 90 minutes into the game, Alberto Tafalla cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 2-4. Grant Blacknell was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. A collision led to Leicester Lions getting a freekick after 94 minutes play. Will Lemerond hit a great ball. The audience thought a goal was coming when Lautaro Mancebo got free with Grant Blacknell in the 95th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. In the 96th minute Alberto Tafalla shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Grant Blacknell saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Mexico's fans were overjoyed with their teams well-earned victory and stayed in the stadium long after the final whistle to celebrate the win.