Challenge

MDQ Raptors Arena
Spectators: 40 (Terracing: 31, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) Daniel Järvenperä started the match with the kick off in front of an excited audience. Joel Gaona fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 3rd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Cosme Francesco having to interfere. Dante Lacasa took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Abelardo Rocendo, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. 7 minutes into the match, MDQ Raptors FC's goal looked a bit too open when Facundo Cadaval came free, but Cosme Francesco reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Ernesto Elodio during the 9th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. 8 minutes into the game, one of MDQ Raptors FC:s players got tackled near the goal, and the referee blew for a penalty. Cosme Francesco didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Joel Gaona went, in the 10th minute, to the upper right corner, 0-1 was the resulting score. Daniel Järvenperä sent away a hard shot on goal in the 12th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. 16 minutes into the game, Facundo Cadaval was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Mexico's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave MDQ Raptors FC the free kick. After 16 played minutes Mexico got a freekick which was hit by Facundo Cadaval. If Joel Gaona had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 18th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Dante Lacasa was a little too slow when Hermengildo Ursino got a fine hit on the ball which went right into the goal in the 20th minute. The score was now 1-1. Cosme Francesco showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Luca Zorita, who was totally free with the ball in the 23rd minute. Alberto Tafalla struck a weak shot in the 36th minute. Cosme Francesco didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Mexico. Cosme Francesco took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Alberto Tafalla, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. With an all-out effort, MDQ Raptors FC's Dante Lacasa threw himself towards the right post 45 minutes into the match and grabbed hold of the ball from Hermengildo Ursino, which otherwise would have been placed in the net. After 46 minutes of play, Mexico's Joel Gaona made it 1-2 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Cosme Francesco was left in no man's land by his defense there! Disappointed in the 1-2 score, the home team went to the dressing room to adjust tactics for the second half.

MDQ Raptors FC were awarded a corner in the 52th minute after Mexico's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Daniel Järvenperä took the corner. MDQ Raptors FC's Cosme Francesco played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Alberto Tafalla in the 54th minute of play. After 55 minutes MDQ Raptors FC's defender was forced to head the ball over the line for a corner. It was Joel Gaona who took care of the corner kick. A well-hit corner resulted in Alberto Tafalla heading the ball towards the goal, but to his dismay he misdirected it and missed the goal completely. Dante Lacasa showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Hermengildo Ursino, who was totally free with the ball in the 57th minute. Cosme Francesco made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Joel Gaona in the 67th minute of play. Dante Lacasa showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Hermengildo Ursino, who was totally free with the ball in the 69th minute. Cosme Francesco stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Joel Gaona's shot from short distance in the 70th minute. Joel Gaona received a nice pass, split the defenders, and ran untouched towards the goal. Cosme Francesco came out and tried to block the shot, but Joel Gaona slotted it home off the left post making it 1-3 in the 75th minute. Dante Lacasa made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Daniel Järvenperä in the 81st minute of play. After a rather tough play, MDQ Raptors FC's Ernesto Elodio got a free kick in the 82nd minute. 83 minutes into the match, MDQ Raptors FC's goal looked a bit too open when Luca Zorita came free, but Cosme Francesco reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 84th minute Mexico were awarded a corner. Joel Gaona went to the cornerflag to take it. Luca Zorita was in a good position and managed to take a shot, but he missed just to the outside of the post. Hermengildo Ursino hit a great freekick 87 minutes into the match. When Lautaro Mancebo came up free with the goalie in the 88th 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 Lautaro Mancebo couldn't finish the play. MDQ Raptors FC's Cosme Francesco proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 90th minute of the match, managed to save MDQ Raptors FC from getting a goal against them. Mexico's Joel Gaona was first on the ball when the corner was shot and he dangerously headed the ball towards goal, but Cosme Francesco in the goal jumped up to prevent it from getting in. In the 95th match minute, Mexico was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Joel Gaona to maneuver through the defense. 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.