Challenge

Claudio D. Borghi
Spectators: 39 (Terracing: 30, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Joel Gaona took the kick off in the first half of the match. Rigoberto Nazario showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Alberto Tafalla in the 2nd minute of the match. The supporters of Mexico booed when Argentinos Juniors was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 7 match minutes in a wonderful position. Ruperto Matei didn't get a good kick on the ball. Alberto Tafalla scored 0-1 in the 15th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Rigoberto Nazario, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. Petruț Fințescu might have been able to make a better finish in the 19th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Dante Lacasa. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Petruț Fințescu ran back to his position shaking his head. 20 minutes into the match, Argentinos Juniors's goal looked a bit too open when Joel Gaona came free, but Rigoberto Nazario reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Dante Lacasa made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Petruț Fințescu in the 24th minute of play. The audience was convinced that Petruț Fințescu's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Dante Lacasa was relentless in the 27th minute of the game. 32 minutes into the match, Mexico's goal looked a bit too open when Eleuterio Milian came free, but Dante Lacasa reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. A hard shot 32 in the game by Eleuterio Milian from a close distance when the talented Dante Lacasa managed to make a qualified save. Mexico's players were relieved. 35 minutes into the match, Mexico's goalkeeper Dante Lacasa had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Sven de Zwaan. In the 42ndth minute of the game Alberto Tafalla who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Argentinos Juniors's Rigoberto Nazario was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. Rigoberto Nazario showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Luca Zorita in the 46th minute of the match. The referee blew the whistle for a penalty in the 47th minute of the game. One of Mexico:s players had nearly got his shirt torn off by an opponent while getting free in front of Argentinos Juniors:s goal. When the match had been going on for 49 minutes, Argentinos Juniors's Sven de Zwaan got an opportunity to shoot a penalty. He stayed cool and waited for the goalkeeper to move, before he confidently shot the ball into the goal, to the left of Dante Lacasa.

The wind increased when Petruț Fințescu made the kick off in the second half. After a rather tough play, Argentinos Juniors's Sven de Zwaan got a free kick in the 55th minute. Lautaro Mancebo sent away a hard shot on goal in the 56th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Petruț Fințescu fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 59th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Dante Lacasa having to interfere. In the 63rd match minute, Mexico was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Lautaro Mancebo to maneuver through the defense. When Denis Mero came up free with the goalie in the 70th minute, the Argentinos Juniors fans jumped to their feet. But the shot missed the goal by a fraction of an inch, and the fans sat back down disappointed that Denis Mero couldn't finish the play. Rigoberto Nazario came out of the goal in the 72nd minute to try and stop a shot by Mexico's Lautaro Mancebo. But to his dismay, Lautaro Mancebo quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 1-2. With a little luck, Argentinos Juniors's Rigoberto Nazario got control of the ball when Alberto Tafalla tried to sneak it across the goal line. A collision led to Mexico getting a freekick after 80 minutes play. Luca Rouco hit a great ball. 82 minutes into the match, Argentinos Juniors's Petruț Fințescu sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Dante Lacasa narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Rigoberto Nazario took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Alberto Tafalla, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Dante Lacasa made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Petruț Fințescu in the 93rd minute of play. Argentinos Juniors's attacker deliberately struck the ball against an opponent to win a corner for his team. The corner was taken by Mats Falch in the 94th minute. After taking down the ball on Argentinos Juniors's corner Petruț Fințescu fired away a hard shot, but the defenders efficiently covered the most dangerous angles and Dante Lacasa quite easily take care of the ball. Bartlomiej Mosiniak hit a great freekick 95 minutes into the match. Denis Mero kicked well hit freekick during the 97th minute of the match.