Challenge

Lagoa Azul
Spectators: 40 (Terracing: 31, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Joel Gaona got the match started through his kick off. Joel Gaona might have been able to make a better finish in the 3rd minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Afonsinho Marques. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Joel Gaona ran back to his position shaking his head. In the 7th minute Lautaro Mancebo shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Afonsinho Marques saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. An unexpectedly hard shot by Lautaro Mancebo in the 8th minute of play forced Fala Sério FC's goalkeeper Afonsinho Marques to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Lautaro Mancebo took the ball and in the 11 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Afonsinho Marques. Afonsinho Marques dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 0-1. After having played for 17 minutes, Joel Gaona managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Mexico's supporters crossed their fingers, but Joel Gaona was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Afonsinho Marques showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Joel Gaona in the 20th minute of the match. Dante Lacasa showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from André Azevedo, who was totally free with the ball in the 21st minute. After some careless play in the Mexico defense, Kauan Santos kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Dante Lacasa. The Mexico fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Dante Lacasa should have stopped the shot. Afonsinho Marques made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Lautaro Mancebo in the 35th minute of play. When Joel Gaona came up free with the goalie in the 38th minute, the Mexico 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 Joel Gaona couldn't finish the play. Afonsinho Marques took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Joel Gaona, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Felix Luque's late challenge caught a Fala Sério FC's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Felix Luque helped the player get up and apologised. In the 45th minute, Felix Luque hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. The first half was very even, with the score at 1-1 when the whistle went for half-time. The players welcomed the break and quickly retired to the dressing rooms.

The wind increased when André Azevedo made the kick off in the second half. An unexpectedly hard shot by Joel Gaona in the 50th minute of play forced Fala Sério FC's goalkeeper Afonsinho Marques to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 51st minute of the match Mexico got a corner. Fala Sério FC's goalie ran out to the linesman to protest the call, but the linesman resolutely pointed his flag at the cornerflag. Joel Gaona ran over to the corner to take the kick. The corner led to Mexico's Luca Zorita getting away a dangerous shot that went just outside the goal. An unexpectedly hard shot by Joel Gaona in the 55th minute of play forced Fala Sério FC's goalkeeper Afonsinho Marques to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Kauan Santos kicked well hit freekick during the 58th minute of the match. Afonsinho Marques made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Joel Gaona in the 60th minute of play. After 66 played minutes Fala Sério FC got a freekick which was hit by André Azevedo. In the 76th minute Joel Gaona shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Afonsinho Marques saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Joel Gaona sent away a hard shot on goal in the 77th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. An unexpectedly hard shot by Raimundo Pernambucano 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. The crowd rose to their feet as Mexico's Lautaro Mancebo slotted home a wonderful shot that went in to the left of Afonsinho Marques. That made the score 1-2 after 80 minutes of play. In the 83rd minute, Raimundo Pernambucano hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. After 86 played minutes, Fala Sério FC's André Azevedo shot from a long distance, and at first it looked like the ball was going into the goal, but the goalkeeper Dante Lacasa came through and got his fingers on the ball before it flew over the goal line. He then quickly gripped the ball tighter before the forwards in Fala Sério FC reached it. A collision led to Fala Sério FC getting a freekick after 90 minutes play. Reynaldo Martins hit a great ball. If Lautaro Mancebo had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 91st minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 92nd match minute, Mexico was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Luca Rouco to maneuver through the defense. Dante Lacasa showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Raimundo Pernambucano, who was totally free with the ball in the 95th minute. Mexico's supporters were very happy and cheered loudly because their team had won after a very close match.