Challenge

gaby milito
Spectators: 40 (Terracing: 31, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) The mood of the audience was pleasant when Isidoro Beltran made the kick off which started today's match. Pepe Santoro made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Lautaro Mancebo in the 3rd minute of play. If Luca Zorita had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 5th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 12th minute, Albano Bertol hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Mateo Mendez's late challenge caught a Mexico's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Mateo Mendez helped the player get up and apologised. Mateo Mendez kicked well hit freekick during the 13th minute of the match. With a little luck, Mexico's Dante Lacasa got control of the ball when Jorg Pieters tried to sneak it across the goal line. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Alberto Tafalla in the 29th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Pepe Santoro saved Independiente from getting behind. After 29 minutes, Alberto Tafalla made it 0-1 with a short kick to the right side. Independiente's Pepe Santoro tried to save the shot but he was too slow in reacting to the shot. Thanks to some nice moves Jorg Pieters could shoot a difficult shot in the 34th minute, which Dante Lacasa however easily saved by the left post. Felix Luque kicked well hit freekick during the 36th minute of the match. Dante Lacasa took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Sören Bengtsson, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 42nd minute Lautaro Mancebo shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Pepe Santoro saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. The supporters of Independiente booed when Mexico was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 43 match minutes in a wonderful position. Luca Zorita didn't get a good kick on the ball. In the 45th minute, Øssur í Lon Jacobsen hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Mexico's Lautaro Mancebo got a good chance for a goal in the 46th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. After a rather tough play, Independiente's Felipe Roldan got a free kick in the 47th minute.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Joel Gaona made a kick off. Mexico's Dante Lacasa played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Jorg Pieters in the 53rd minute of play. Pepe Santoro made a fantastic save in the 57th minute, when Lautaro Mancebo sent off a good shot on target. Mexico's Facundo Cadaval got a good chance for a goal in the 61st minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. The audience was convinced that Joel Gaona's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Pepe Santoro was relentless in the 66th minute of the game. An unexpectedly hard shot by Sören Bengtsson in the 79th minute of play forced Mexico's goalkeeper Dante Lacasa to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Dante Lacasa made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Isidoro Beltran in the 83rd minute of play. After some fancy dribbling in the 86th minute, Luca Zorita managed to get in a good position for a shot. Mexico's supporters rose to their feet, but Luca Zorita was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Pepe Santoro breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. 89 minutes into the match, Joel Gaona dribbled the ball past the defender and swiftly kicked the ball to the left of Pepe Santoro, 0-2. Lautaro Mancebo sent away a hard shot on goal in the 91st minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Felipe Roldan charged in rather forcefully in the 93rd minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Felipe Roldan the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. Felipe Roldan hit a great freekick 93 minutes into the match. Mexico played a much better game than Independiente and deserved their victory. The Independiente players were clearly disappointed as they left the ground.