Challenge

The Field
Spectators: 44 (Terracing: 34, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Guillaume Laurent Benmabrouk took the kick off in the first half of the match. 6 minutes into the match, THE OLD BOYS's goal looked a bit too open when Joel Gaona came free, but Hamid Morceli reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. If Alberto Tafalla had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 8th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After a defensive mix-up in THE OLD BOYS's zone, Alberto Tafalla stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Hamid Morceli came out of the goal and Alberto Tafalla tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. 12 minutes into the match, Mexico's Luca Zorita sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Hamid Morceli narrowly saved just below the crossbar. 12 minutes into the game, Luca Zorita cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 0-1. Hamid Morceli was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. An unexpectedly hard shot by Joel Gaona in the 16th minute of play forced THE OLD BOYS's goalkeeper Hamid Morceli to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. 17 minutes had been played when some careless play by THE OLD BOYS's defense caused the ball to cross the line for a corner. Joel Gaona was slow to take the kick. During this time Mexico's players had a chance to rest. The corner ended in Joel Gaona almost managing to get the ball behind the net, but THE OLD BOYS's Hamid Morceli did a great save. After having played for 19 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. Mexico's Dante Lacasa proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 20th minute of the match, managed to save Mexico from getting a goal against them. Facundo Cadaval kicked well hit freekick during the 25th minute of the match. THE OLD BOYS's Hamid Morceli played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Lautaro Mancebo in the 32nd minute of play. Hamid Morceli 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 35th minute. An unexpectedly hard shot by Luca Zorita in the 37th minute of play forced THE OLD BOYS's goalkeeper Hamid Morceli to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Slimane Oussalah during the 39th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. After a rather tough play, THE OLD BOYS's Slimane Oussalah got a free kick in the 39th minute. Dante Lacasa showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Guillaume Laurent Benmabrouk, who was totally free with the ball in the 42nd minute. In the 44th minute Lennart Bäckström 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. Hamid Morceli 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 corner led Mexico's Macos Graciani to fire away a dangerous shot which Hamid Morceli despite some difficulties managed to get hold on the ball. Even after changing tactics the home team jogged off the field with a 0-1 deficit. They would have to work harder if they wanted to turn things around in the second half.

The wind increased when Joel Gaona made the kick off in the second half. Joel Gaona struck a weak shot in the 52nd minute. Hamid Morceli didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Mexico. 54 minutes into the match, Mexico's goal looked a bit too open when Guillaume Laurent Benmabrouk came free, but Dante Lacasa reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Dante Lacasa showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Guillaume Laurent Benmabrouk, who was totally free with the ball in the 63rd minute. Abdelkader Merbah hit a great freekick 68 minutes into the match. In the 69th minute Luca Zorita shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Hamid Morceli saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Through an outstanding action, after 71 minutes, Hamid Morceli successfully got his hands on the ball before it slid into the goal at the right post. 77 minutes into the match, THE OLD BOYS's goalkeeper Hamid Morceli had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Lautaro Mancebo. Hamid Morceli 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 82nd minute. 83 minutes into the game, THE OLD BOYS's Guillaume Laurent Benmabrouk 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, 1-2. Mexico played a much better game than THE OLD BOYS and deserved their victory. The THE OLD BOYS players were clearly disappointed as they left the ground.