Challenge

Nelson Road
Spectators: 44 (Terracing: 34, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) Lawrence Hopson started the match with the kick off in front of an excited audience. Mexico's Dante Lacasa played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Levi Cronin in the 3rd minute of play. Joel Gaona fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 5th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Emerson Whaley having to interfere. David Brochu came free with the goalkeeper in the 7th minute of the match, and shot straight on target. The shot was a little too simple and Dante Lacasa could save by the left post. Emerson Whaley took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Joel Gaona, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 9th minute, Karol Dankowski hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. 12 minutes into the game, Mexico's Alberto Tafalla nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Emerson Whaley made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 0-1. 19 minutes into the game, Irmantas Zenkevičius was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. AFC Richmond's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Mexico the free kick. Irmantas Zenkevičius kicked well hit freekick during the 19th minute of the match. In the 21st minute Mexico were awarded a corner. Joel Gaona went to the cornerflag to take it. A nice corner shot did that Joel Gaona got away a dangerous shot. Despite this Emerson Whaley quite easily got ahold of the ball to make the save. Joel Gaona received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 23rd minute. Emerson Whaley tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Joel Gaona in the 24th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Emerson Whaley prevented the ball from getting in the gole. After 25 minutes AFC Richmond'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. In the 28th minute Alberto Tafalla shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Emerson Whaley saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Mexico's attacker deliberately struck the ball against an opponent to win a corner for his team. The corner was taken by Joel Gaona in the 29th minute. Emerson Whaley didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Lautaro Mancebo went, in the 33rd minute, to the upper right corner, 0-2 was the resulting score. If Luca Zorita had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 41st minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Emerson Whaley took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Alberto Tafalla, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Joel Gaona to make the kick off. Emerson Whaley showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Joel Gaona in the 51st minute of the match. In the 54th minute of the match, Joel Gaona tried to roll the ball into the goal by the right post, but Emerson Whaley saw his intentions and got control of the ball before it passed the line. AFC Richmond's defense didn't have a chance, in the 58th minute, when Lautaro Mancebo scored to the left of an out of position Emerson Whaley, making the score, 0-4. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Joel Gaona in the 65th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Emerson Whaley prevented the ball from getting in the gole. René Moody kicked well hit freekick during the 69th minute of the match. Mexico's Joel Gaona shoveled away a really nice long shot in the 69th minute of play. The shot was stopped by Emerson Whaley but with some difficulty. Emerson Whaley showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Joel Gaona in the 74th minute of the match. Lautaro Mancebo could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 78th minute of the match, but Emerson Whaley made a huge save. An unexpectedly hard shot by Alberto Tafalla in the 79th minute of play forced AFC Richmond's goalkeeper Emerson Whaley to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Alberto Tafalla sent away a hard shot on goal in the 89th minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. In the 93rd minute, Lawrence Hopson hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. The referee blew the final whistle, and the away crowd roared, having watched Mexico eke out a victory against a very well matched opponent.