Challenge

Arena Cadu
Spectators: 40 (Terracing: 31, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when Hugo Alcântara kicked off to start the match. Gelu Lepuș made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Joel Gaona in the 2nd minute of play. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Joel Gaona in the 3rd minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Gelu Lepuș prevented the ball from getting in the gole. After 3 minutes, Renato Barral mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Cadu Team and the Mexico players grew even worse after the yellow card. A collision led to Cadu Team getting a freekick after 3 minutes play. Renato Barral hit a great ball. Alberto Tafalla received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 4th minute. Gelu Lepuș tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Dante Lacasa took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Válbson Paiva, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. After 11 minutes of play, Mexico's Joel Gaona made it 0-1 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Gelu Lepuș was left in no man's land by his defense there! After some fancy dribbling in the 15th minute, Lautaro Mancebo managed to get in a good position for a shot. Mexico's supporters rose to their feet, but Lautaro Mancebo was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Gelu Lepuș breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Gelu Lepuș took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Lautaro Mancebo, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. A collision led to Cadu Team getting a freekick after 17 minutes play. Mattias Downing hit a great ball. Alberto Tafalla fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 21st minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Gelu Lepuș having to interfere. Gelu Lepuș 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 23rd minute. In the 24th minute Mexico were awarded a corner. Joel Gaona went to the cornerflag to take it. Mexico's Joel Gaona was first on the ball when the corner was shot and he dangerously headed the ball towards goal, but Gelu Lepuș in the goal jumped up to prevent it from getting in. Alberto Tafalla scored 0-2 in the 27th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Gelu Lepuș, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. Leonardo Leoz made in the 34th minute of the game a throw-in that took a bad bounce and was taken care of by Cadu Team's Renato Barral. 36 minutes into the match, Cadu Team's goal looked a bit too open when Alberto Tafalla came free, but Gelu Lepuș reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Gelu Lepuș 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 38th minute. Lautaro Mancebo sent away a hard shot on goal in the 45th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After a rather tough play, Cadu Team's Renato Barral got a free kick in the 46th minute. In the 47th minute the ball was on its way in behind Cadu Team's goalkeeper Gelu Lepuș, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. Even after changing tactics the home team jogged off the field with a 0-2 deficit. They would have to work harder if they wanted to turn things around in the second half.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Joel Gaona was the one to do the kick off. Lautaro Mancebo could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 55th minute of the match, but Gelu Lepuș made a huge save. An unexpectedly hard shot by Hugo Alcântara in the 58th minute of play forced Mexico's goalkeeper Dante Lacasa to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. 62 minutes into the match, Cadu Team's goalkeeper Gelu Lepuș had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Alberto Tafalla. After some fancy dribbling in the 67th 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. Gelu Lepuș breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. If Joel Gaona had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 68th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. In the 70th minute, Alberto Tafalla left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The Mexico fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 0-3. The crowd rose to their feet as Luca Zorita kicked a wonderful shot that went in to the left of a diving Gelu Lepuș. That made the score 0-4 in the 75 minute of play. In the 81st minute, Facundo Cadaval ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Gelu Lepuș was frozen by the shot and now it was 0-5. 89 minutes into the match, Cadu Team's goal looked a bit too open when Alberto Tafalla came free, but Gelu Lepuș reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 91st minute, Mattias Downing hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. After a defensive mix-up in Cadu Team's zone, Alberto Tafalla stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Gelu Lepuș came out of the goal and Alberto Tafalla tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. In the 94th minute, Mattias Downing hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. The Cadu Team fans had already started to leave before the final whistle blew. Mexico were clearly better and deserved to take the win.