Challenge

Paolo Poli
Spectators: 41 (Terracing: 32, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Cesare Di Renzo took the kick off in the first half of the match. In the 4th minute Alberto Tafalla shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Flavio Lavatrice saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. 8 minutes into the match, Mexico's goalkeeper Dante Lacasa had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Cesare Di Renzo. The audience thought a goal was coming when Ni Liang Yong got free with Dante Lacasa in the 10th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Flavio Lavatrice took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Lautaro Mancebo, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Alberto Tafalla took the ball and in the 19 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Flavio Lavatrice. Flavio Lavatrice 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. An unexpectedly hard shot by Lautaro Mancebo in the 23rd minute of play forced Molfetta sportiva's goalkeeper Flavio Lavatrice to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. A hard shot 25 in the game by Cesare Di Renzo from a close distance when the talented Dante Lacasa managed to make a qualified save. Mexico's players were relieved. 27 minutes into the match, Joel Gaona had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Flavio Lavatrice. Molfetta sportiva's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Joel Gaona was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 0-2. In the 31st minute, Facundo Cadaval made a precise shot to the right of Flavio Lavatrice. Molfetta sportiva's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 0-3. Domenico Campo kicked well hit freekick during the 38th minute of the match. In the 40th minute of the match, Carmine Iannone tried to roll the ball into the goal by the right post, but Dante Lacasa saw his intentions and got control of the ball before it passed the line. The audience thought a goal was coming when Ni Liang Yong got free with Dante Lacasa in the 41st minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Molfetta sportiva's Flavio Lavatrice played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Lautaro Mancebo in the 42nd minute of play. The Molfetta sportiva players were disheartened as they walked off the pitch after the first half. Mexico were winning 1-3.

Cesare Di Renzo struck a weak shot in the 55th minute. Dante Lacasa didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Molfetta sportiva. The audience thought a goal was coming when Alberto Tafalla got free with Flavio Lavatrice in the 58th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. In the 61st minute, Domenico Campo got an opportunity to score, but he didn't get a solid hit on the ball and ended up kicking it wide of the goal. Flavio Lavatrice took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Joel Gaona, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Flavio Lavatrice showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Joel Gaona in the 71st minute of the match. Through an outstanding action, after 73 minutes, Flavio Lavatrice successfully got his hands on the ball before it slid into the goal at the right post. Joel Gaona received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 74th minute. Flavio Lavatrice tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. A collision led to Molfetta sportiva getting a freekick after 76 minutes play. Ni Liang Yong hit a great ball. Ni Liang Yong hit a great freekick 78 minutes into the match. Lautaro Mancebo sent away a hard shot on goal in the 79th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Thanks to some nice moves Lautaro Mancebo could shoot a difficult shot in the 84th minute, which Flavio Lavatrice however easily saved by the left post. Dante Lacasa showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Carmine Iannone, who was totally free with the ball in the 86th minute. In the 86th match minute, Molfetta sportiva was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Ni Liang Yong to maneuver through the defense. Facundo Cadaval received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 89th minute. Flavio Lavatrice tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. The crowd rose to their feet as Mexico's Alberto Tafalla slotted home a wonderful shot that went in to the left of Flavio Lavatrice. That made the score 1-5 after 95 minutes of play. The Mexico supporters could be heard counting down the last seconds of the match. They errupted in celebration when the whistle blew, knowing Mexico would go home with victory in their luggage after a match that easily could have ended differently.