Challenge

Floriana Krygiera
Spectators: 44 (Terracing: 34, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when Norbert Major kicked off to start the match. Pogoń Szczecin's Manos Trachanas managed, thanks to a brazen rush, stole the ball on a throw-in made by Leonardo Leoz in the 2 minute of the game. Leonardo Leoz's late challenge caught a Pogoń Szczecin's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Leonardo Leoz helped the player get up and apologised. Leonardo Leoz kicked well hit freekick during the 3rd minute of the match. Mexico's defense didn't have a chance, in the 5th minute, when Norbert Major scored to the left of an out of position Dante Lacasa, making the score, 1-0. In the 9th minute the ball was on its way in behind Pogoń Szczecin's goalkeeper Sebastião Xoxe, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. 13 minutes into the match, Pogoń Szczecin's Norbert Major sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Dante Lacasa narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Pogoń Szczecin were awarded a corner in the 15th minute after Mexico's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Conrado Donzel took the corner. Pogoń Szczecin's Conrado Donzel 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. In the 17th 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. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Norbert Major in the 21st managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Dante Lacasa saved Mexico from getting behind. A collision led to Pogoń Szczecin getting a freekick after 23 minutes play. Manos Trachanas hit a great ball. Norbert Major'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 25th minute of play. Joel Gaona recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 26th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Mexico's Joel Gaona got a good chance for a goal in the 30th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. The audience was convinced that Lautaro Mancebo's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Sebastião Xoxe was relentless in the 35th minute of the game. After a rather tough play, Mexico's Joel Gaona got a free kick in the 39th minute. In the 44th minute Alberto Tafalla shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Sebastião Xoxe saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Mexico were awarded a corner in the 45th minute after Pogoń Szczecin's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Joel Gaona took the corner. The corner led Mexico's Joel Gaona to fire away a dangerous shot which Sebastião Xoxe despite some difficulties managed to get hold on the ball. A collision led to Pogoń Szczecin getting a freekick after 46 minutes play. Conrado Donzel hit a great ball. In the 47th minute, Alberto Tafalla made a precise shot to the right of Sebastião Xoxe. Pogoń Szczecin's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 1-1. The first half was very even, with the score at 1-1 when the whistle went for half-time. The players welcomed the break and quickly retired to the dressing rooms.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Joel Gaona to make the kick off. Sebastião Xoxe showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Alberto Tafalla in the 61st minute of the match. Sebastião Xoxe took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Alberto Tafalla, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. 65 minutes into the match, Pogoń Szczecin's goal looked a bit too open when Joel Gaona came free, but Sebastião Xoxe reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Norbert Major took the ball and in the 67 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Dante Lacasa. Dante Lacasa dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 2-1. In the 75th minute Mexico were awarded a corner. Joel Gaona went to the cornerflag to take it. The audience thought a goal was coming when Alberto Tafalla got free with Sebastião Xoxe in the 80th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. An unexpectedly hard shot by Norbert Major in the 90th minute of play forced Mexico's goalkeeper Dante Lacasa to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 92nd match minute, Pogoń Szczecin was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Zula Mentis to maneuver through the defense. Mexico were clearly unhappy with the draw, as they felt they had done enough to earn themselves a victory.