Challenge

Crystal Arena
Spectators: 40 (Terracing: 31, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) Veth Crystals's Gwidon Patora 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. Gwidon Patora did some fancy footwork in front of goal and succeeded to deceive the defenders so he could slam the ball in 1-0 to the left of a surprised Dante Lacasa 3 minutes into the match. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Lautaro Mancebo in the 6th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Marcos Lama prevented the ball from getting in the gole. After some careless play in the Mexico defense, He Lin Di 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. Erik Persson'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. Erik Persson helped the player get up and apologised. After 14 played minutes Veth Crystals got a freekick which was hit by Erik Persson. 15 minutes into the match, Veth Crystals's goal looked a bit too open when Lautaro Mancebo came free, but Marcos Lama reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Dante Lacasa made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Erik Persson in the 17th minute of play. Carlos-Armando Valderrama in the 20thth minute had a little luck and got a chance for a shot in front of the goal. Without hesitation aimed to the right of Dante Lacasa, who managed to lunge to the right direction and made a save. 24 minutes into the match, Erik Persson had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Dante Lacasa. Mexico's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Erik Persson was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 3-0. After having played for 26 minutes, Erik Persson managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Veth Crystals's supporters crossed their fingers, but Erik Persson was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Erik Persson might have been able to make a better finish in the 28th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Dante Lacasa. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Erik Persson ran back to his position shaking his head. The audience thought a goal was coming when Carlos-Armando Valderrama got free with Dante Lacasa in the 32nd minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. In the 35th minute of the match Mexico got a corner. Veth Crystals'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 ended in Lautaro Mancebo almost managing to get the ball behind the net, but Veth Crystals's Marcos Lama did a great save. Marcos Lama made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Alberto Tafalla in the 42nd minute of play. He Lin Di fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 45th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Dante Lacasa having to interfere. Dante Lacasa made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Gwidon Patora in the 46th minute of play. No-one was surprised that the home team were leading 3-0 at half-time.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Joel Gaona made a kick off. Dante Lacasa made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Carlos-Armando Valderrama in the 51st minute of play. An unexpectedly hard shot by Joel Gaona in the 53rd minute of play forced Veth Crystals's goalkeeper Marcos Lama to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. After some careless play in the Veth Crystals defense, Joel Gaona kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Marcos Lama. The Veth Crystals fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Marcos Lama should have stopped the shot. An unexpectedly hard shot by Carlos-Armando Valderrama in the 56th minute of play forced Mexico's goalkeeper Dante Lacasa to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. 61 minutes into the match, Mexico's goal looked a bit too open when Gwidon Patora came free, but Dante Lacasa reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 63rd minute, Alberto Tafalla 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. 64 minutes into the match, Mexico's goal looked a bit too open when Gwidon Patora came free, but Dante Lacasa reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Veth Crystals's Marcos Lama played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Joel Gaona in the 65th minute of play. In the 69th minute, Gwidon Patora made a precise shot to the right of Dante Lacasa. Mexico's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 4-1. Marcos Lama 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 74th minute. The corner led to Mexico's Alberto Tafalla getting away a dangerous shot that went just outside the goal. After some fancy dribbling in the 89th minute, Joel Gaona managed to get in a good position for a shot. Mexico's supporters rose to their feet, but Joel Gaona was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Marcos Lama breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Marcos Lama took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Luca Zorita, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Mexico's players left the field with heads hung low after losing a match that had been finely balanced throughout.