Challenge

City Palace Stadium
Spectators: 40 (Terracing: 31, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Julian Efraim started the match with the kick off. In the 5th minute Alberto Tafalla shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Xencio Millan saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 7th minute of the match, Primitivo Ciano 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. Dante Lacasa made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Augusto Santio in the 10th minute of play. In the 10th minute Augusto Santio 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. Xencio Millan made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Joel Gaona in the 11th minute of play. 11 minutes into the game, Mexico's Joel Gaona nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Xencio Millan made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 0-1. If Primitivo Ciano had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 17th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Dante Lacasa made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Julian Efraim in the 23rd minute of play. Xencio Millan made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Lautaro Mancebo in the 24th minute of play. Xencio Millan showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Lautaro Mancebo in the 26th minute of the match. Dante Lacasa made a fantastic save in the 29th minute, when Primitivo Ciano sent off a good shot on target. Dante Lacasa showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Julian Efraim, who was totally free with the ball in the 31st minute. Dante Lacasa took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Julian Efraim, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. 36 minutes into the match, Cardiff City FC's goal looked a bit too open when Joel Gaona came free, but Xencio Millan reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Xencio Millan made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Joel Gaona in the 40th minute of play. Lautaro Mancebo's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Xencio Millan read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 44th minute of play. Cardiff City FC's Xencio Millan played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Joel Gaona in the 47th minute of play. Even after changing tactics the home team jogged off the field with a 0-1 deficit. They would have to work harder if they wanted to turn things around in the second half.

If Luca Zorita had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 53rd minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. Xencio Millan made a fantastic save in the 55th minute, when Lautaro Mancebo sent off a good shot on target. After 56 minutes Cardiff City FC's defender was forced to head the ball over the line for a corner. It was Joel Gaona who took care of the corner kick. A nice corner shot did that Joel Gaona got away a dangerous shot. Despite this Xencio Millan quite easily got ahold of the ball to make the save. In the 59th minute Joel Gaona shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Xencio Millan saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. An unexpectedly hard shot by Julian Efraim in the 62nd minute of play forced Mexico's goalkeeper Dante Lacasa to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. When Julian Efraim came up free with the goalie in the 65th minute, the Cardiff City FC fans jumped to their feet. But the shot missed the goal by a fraction of an inch, and the fans sat back down disappointed that Julian Efraim couldn't finish the play. Dante Lacasa showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Julian Efraim, who was totally free with the ball in the 70th minute. Alberto Tafalla received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 73rd minute. Xencio Millan tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. After a defensive mix-up in Cardiff City FC's zone, Joel Gaona stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Xencio Millan came out of the goal and Joel Gaona tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Luca Zorita blasted a shot towards the goal in the 82nd minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Xencio Millan having to make a save. Xencio Millan showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Joel Gaona, who was totally free with the ball in the 84th minute. 84 minutes into the match, Mexico's Lautaro Mancebo sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Xencio Millan narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Dante Lacasa made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Julian Efraim in the 91st minute of play. Joel Gaona received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 93rd minute. Xencio Millan tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Rafa Coutinho hit a great freekick 95 minutes into the match. Mexico's players went to the stands to thank the travelling support. The fan's backing had helped spurr the team on to a fine performance that won them the match.