Challenge

ĪRA stadium
Spectators: 43 (Terracing: 33, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) Mexico's Joel Gaona started the match with a crisp pass. The crowd had been anticipating this game for weeks and the excitement in the stadium was easily visible. Iakovos Perivolakis showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Lautaro Mancebo in the 5th minute of the match. Chinomso Zelarayan could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 6th minute of the match, but Dante Lacasa made a huge save. Lautaro Mancebo sent away a hard shot on goal in the 9th minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. Iakovos Perivolakis made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Lautaro Mancebo in the 13th minute of play. IRAKLIS were awarded a corner in the 19th minute after Mexico's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Alketas Kolliopoulos took the corner. After taking down the ball on IRAKLIS's corner Alketas Kolliopoulos fired away a hard shot, but the defenders efficiently covered the most dangerous angles and Dante Lacasa quite easily take care of the ball. Alberto Tafalla received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 20th minute. Iakovos Perivolakis tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. In the 22nd minute, IRAKLIS's Miltiadis Liakos dribbled the ball into the box and hit a shot with the outside of his foot, sending the keeper the wrong way. 1-0. With a little luck, Mexico's Dante Lacasa got control of the ball when Chinomso Zelarayan tried to sneak it across the goal line. An unexpectedly hard shot by Lautaro Mancebo in the 25th minute of play forced IRAKLIS's goalkeeper Iakovos Perivolakis to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. IRAKLIS's Iakovos Perivolakis played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Alberto Tafalla in the 27th minute of play. Chinomso Zelarayan charged in rather forcefully in the 32nd minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Chinomso Zelarayan the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. A collision led to IRAKLIS getting a freekick after 32 minutes play. Chinomso Zelarayan hit a great ball. Iakovos Perivolakis showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Lautaro Mancebo, who was totally free with the ball in the 35th minute. In the 42nd minute Alberto Tafalla shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Iakovos Perivolakis saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Iakovos Perivolakis took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Alberto Tafalla, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. After a rather tough play, IRAKLIS's Tasos Samarakos got a free kick in the 46th minute. After a defensive mix-up in IRAKLIS's zone, Lautaro Mancebo stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Iakovos Perivolakis came out of the goal and Lautaro Mancebo tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. After the first half the score was level. The break gave the players a chance to catch their breath, whilst the managers went over the tactics with them again.

Dante Lacasa showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Chinomso Zelarayan in the 51st minute of the match. In the 52nd minute Joel Gaona shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Iakovos Perivolakis saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Lautaro Mancebo recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 56th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. After 57 minutes of play IRAKLIS's Chinomso Zelarayan was too eager in his attempt to stop his opponent and brought him down. With that he got his second yellow card and was ordered off the ground. In the 57th minute, Chinomso Zelarayan hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Joel Gaona kicked well hit freekick during the 63rd minute of the match. Miltiadis Liakos's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Dante Lacasa read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 65th minute of play. In the 69th minute, Facundo Cadaval hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. A collision led to IRAKLIS getting a freekick after 72 minutes play. Theodosis Christodoulou hit a great ball. Menelaos Mavromatis'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. Menelaos Mavromatis helped the player get up and apologised. 73 minutes into the game, one of IRAKLIS:s players got tackled near the goal, and the referee blew for a penalty. When the match had been going on for 74 minutes, Mexico's Joel Gaona 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 Iakovos Perivolakis. 78 minutes into the match, IRAKLIS's goal looked a bit too open when Joel Gaona came free, but Iakovos Perivolakis reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Alberto Tafalla recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 83rd minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Dante Lacasa made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Miltiadis Liakos in the 85th minute of play. In the 89th minute Joel Gaona shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Iakovos Perivolakis saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. 90 minutes had been played when some careless play by IRAKLIS'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. Alketas Kontodimos tried in the game's 90th match minute to clear up in front of his own goal but it went so bad that he put the ball into the goal to the left of an unhappy Iakovos Perivolakis. An annoying self made goal, 1-3. After a rather tough play, IRAKLIS's Alketas Kolliopoulos got a free kick in the 93rd minute. Joel Gaona fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 97th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Iakovos Perivolakis having to interfere. When the final whistle sounded Mexico left the ground with the victory after a much better performance than IRAKLIS.