Challenge

Koolkerke Stadion
Spectators: 44 (Terracing: 34, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when Joel Gaona kicked off to start the match. Ulises Steven took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Lautaro Mancebo, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Joseph Smits sent away a hard shot on goal in the 12th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. If Joseph Smits had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 14th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. The crowd rose to their feet as AFC Koolkerke's Robertinho Carabajal slotted home a wonderful shot that went in to the left of Dante Lacasa. That made the score 1-0 after 21 minutes of play. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Joseph Smits during the 25th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. In the 29th match minute, AFC Koolkerke was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Robertinho Carabajal to maneuver through the defense. An unexpectedly hard shot by Joel Gaona in the 34th minute of play forced AFC Koolkerke's goalkeeper Ulises Steven to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 35th minute of the match Mexico got a corner. AFC Koolkerke'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. A nice corner shot did that Luca Rouco got away a dangerous shot. Despite this Ulises Steven quite easily got ahold of the ball to make the save. Ulises Steven stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Lautaro Mancebo's shot from short distance in the 35th minute. With a little luck, Mexico's Dante Lacasa got control of the ball when Robertinho Carabajal tried to sneak it across the goal line. All the noise was coming from the home fans when the whistle went for half-time. The home team had fought hardest to put themselves in a deserved lead.

52 minutes into the match, Mexico's goal looked a bit too open when Joseph Smits came free, but Dante Lacasa reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Dante Lacasa showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Joseph Smits, who was totally free with the ball in the 53rd minute. After 55 minutes Mexico's defender was forced to head the ball over the line for a corner. It was Tang Di Nan who took care of the corner kick. After taking down the ball on AFC Koolkerke's corner Tang Di Nan fired away a hard shot, but the defenders efficiently covered the most dangerous angles and Dante Lacasa quite easily take care of the ball. Ulises Steven made a fantastic save in the 64th minute, when Lautaro Mancebo sent off a good shot on target. Facundo Cadaval kicked well hit freekick during the 67th minute of the match. 68 minutes into the match, AFC Koolkerke's Tang Di Nan broke free and took a long shot that unfortunately flew wide. A fine initiative that could have resulted in a goal. Ulises Steven made an important save on a dangerous shot by Lautaro Mancebo in the 72nd minute. In the 78th minute, Joseph Smits made a precise shot to the right of Dante Lacasa. Mexico's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 2-0. In the 83rd minute of the match Mexico got a corner. AFC Koolkerke'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 went over the outstretched arms of AFC Koolkerke's goalie and right to Luca Zorita. He fired away a shot at goal, but the shot had too much spin, and it went just outside the goal. AFC Koolkerke's manager breathed a sigh of relief on the sidelines as his team had managed to escape an almost certain goal. In the 84th minute, Joseph Smits left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The AFC Koolkerke fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 3-0. Ulises Steven was out of position in the 89 minute of play, and Alberto Tafalla capitalized on the mistake with a soft shot into the goal. Alberto Tafalla really showed his touch with that goal: 3-1. 92 minutes into the game, Mexico's Alberto Tafalla nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Ulises Steven made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 3-2. Luca Zorita received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 94th minute. Ulises Steven tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Mexico's supporters were dissatisfied at the end of the match because AFC Koolkerke had won, even though Mexico had held more of the ball.