Challenge

Elland Road
Spectators: 42 (Terracing: 32, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Tervel Dushanov started the match with the kick off. Stoycho Mladenov 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 struck a weak shot in the 7th minute. Nikifor Ruzhekov didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Mexico. 9 minutes into the game, Pavlin Mogilanski was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. EW® Leeds's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Mexico the free kick. In the 9th minute, Pavlin Mogilanski hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Nikifor Ruzhekov 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 10th minute. An unexpectedly hard shot by Lautaro Mancebo in the 15th minute of play forced EW® Leeds's goalkeeper Nikifor Ruzhekov to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Mexico were awarded a corner in the 16th minute after EW® Leeds's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Joel Gaona took the corner. After 19 minutes, Lautaro Mancebo mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Mexico and the EW® Leeds players grew even worse after the yellow card. After a rather tough play, Mexico's Lautaro Mancebo got a free kick in the 19th minute. Dante Lacasa took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Slavi Dramov, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Dante Lacasa made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Slavi Dramov in the 20th minute of play. Lautaro Mancebo blasted a shot towards the goal in the 25th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Nikifor Ruzhekov having to make a save. Alberto Tafalla sent away a hard shot on goal in the 32nd minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. 33 minutes into the match, EW® Leeds's goal looked a bit too open when Lautaro Mancebo came free, but Nikifor Ruzhekov reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After a rather tough play, EW® Leeds's Daniel Zamfirov got a free kick in the 36th minute. In the 39th minute of the match, Anatoli Filov got a very nice opportunity to score, but Dante Lacasa was well-placed and pushed the ball away from the goal at the left post. Mexico's Dante Lacasa proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 42nd minute of the match, managed to save Mexico from getting a goal against them. EW® Leeds's Nikifor Ruzhekov played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Lautaro Mancebo in the 44th minute of play. Yani Dakelov'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. Yani Dakelov helped the player get up and apologised. In the 45th match minute, EW® Leeds was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Yani Dakelov to maneuver through the defense. Nikifor Ruzhekov made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Joel Gaona in the 47th minute of play. The first half was very even, with the score at 0-0 when the whistle went for half-time. The players welcomed the break and quickly retired to the dressing rooms.

Mexico's Dante Lacasa played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Slavi Dramov in the 52nd minute of play. The audience thought a goal was coming when Lautaro Mancebo got free with Nikifor Ruzhekov in the 54th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. 60 minutes into the game, Anatoli Filov cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 1-0. Dante Lacasa was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. Mexico's attacker deliberately struck the ball against an opponent to win a corner for his team. The corner was taken by Joel Gaona in the 64th minute. A nice corner shot did that Joel Gaona got away a dangerous shot. Despite this Nikifor Ruzhekov quite easily got ahold of the ball to make the save. Dante Lacasa took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Slavi Dramov, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 74th minute Anatoli Filov shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Dante Lacasa saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Lautaro Mancebo came free with the goalkeeper in the 76th minute of the match, and shot straight on target. The shot was a little too simple and Nikifor Ruzhekov could save by the left post. After a rather tough play, EW® Leeds's Yani Dakelov got a free kick in the 77th minute. 78 minutes into the match, EW® Leeds's goal looked a bit too open when Facundo Cadaval came free, but Nikifor Ruzhekov reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Lautaro Mancebo's shot when he came free in front of the goal in the 85thth minute, Nikifor Ruzhekov skillfully showed off with a save to what seemed to be an obvious goal. Dante Lacasa showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Stoycho Mladenov, who was totally free with the ball in the 86th minute. The audience thought a goal was coming when Lautaro Mancebo got free with Nikifor Ruzhekov in the 95th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. In the 96th minute of the match Mexico got a corner. EW® Leeds'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 Joel Gaona almost managing to get the ball behind the net, but EW® Leeds's Nikifor Ruzhekov did a great save. The crowd rose to their feet and cheered when the referee blew the final whistle. EW® Leeds had won after a very even match.