Challenge

ALICO ARENA
Spectators: 40 (Terracing: 31, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) The mood of the audience was pleasant when Lukáš Katačić made the kick off which started today's match. In the 8th minute, John James hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. In the 9th match minute, Florida Gulf Coast was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Sixto Bitxintxo to maneuver through the defense. A collision led to Mexico getting a freekick after 17 minutes play. Macos Graciani hit a great ball. The audience was convinced that Lukáš Katačić's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Dante Lacasa was relentless in the 18th minute of the game. Luis Nardo 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 24th minute. 27 minutes into the match, Mexico's goal looked a bit too open when Lukáš Katačić came free, but Dante Lacasa reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. When Mexico's Alberto Tafalla in the 32nd minute got a chance for a shot 32nd didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Florida Gulf Coast's goalie prevented a goal. After a rather tough play, Mexico's Lautaro Mancebo got a free kick in the 33rd minute. 37 minutes had been played when some careless play by Florida Gulf Coast'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. Florida Gulf Coast's Sixto Bitxintxo managed, thanks to a brazen rush, stole the ball on a throw-in made by Luca Rouco in the 39 minute of the game. Mexico's Dante Lacasa proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 43rd minute of the match, managed to save Mexico from getting a goal against them.

If Lautaro Mancebo had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 53rd minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. After 55 played minutes Florida Gulf Coast got a freekick which was hit by John James. Joel Gaona was extremely unlucky when he, in the 58th minute, took a shot that hit the right post and went out. Luis Nardo took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Joel Gaona, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. 65 minutes had been played when some careless play by Florida Gulf Coast'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 attack was good, but when Lautaro Mancebo in the 65th minute was about to shoot he didn't kick quite good enough and the ball went high over goal. In the 72nd minute, Macos Graciani hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Mexico's Dante Lacasa played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Lukáš Katačić in the 76th minute of play. Florida Gulf Coast's attacker deliberately struck the ball against an opponent to win a corner for his team. The corner was taken by John James in the 78th minute. Luis Nardo made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Joel Gaona in the 86th minute of play. 88 minutes had been played when some careless play by Florida Gulf Coast'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. Luis Nardo made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Joel Gaona in the 94th minute of play. 94 minutes into the match, Joel Gaona had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Luis Nardo. Florida Gulf Coast's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Joel Gaona was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 0-1. When the final whistle sounded Mexico left the ground with the victory after a much better performance than Florida Gulf Coast.