Challenge

Nestor Field Arena
Spectators: 41 (Terracing: 32, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) S.C. Monte Marino's Francesco Primavera 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. In the 4th minute Lucjan Škarpa 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's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Elia Lepre read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 5th minute of play. 5 minutes into the game, Mexico's Lautaro Mancebo nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Elia Lepre made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 0-1. In the 8th minute the ball was on its way in behind S.C. Monte Marino's goalkeeper Elia Lepre, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. The supporters of S.C. Monte Marino booed when Mexico was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 11 match minutes in a wonderful position. Luca Rouco didn't get a good kick on the ball. After a defensive mix-up in S.C. Monte Marino's zone, Alberto Tafalla stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Elia Lepre 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. Mexico's attentive Facundo Cadaval managed to snatch the ball when Alvaro Longo made a throw-in in the 31st minute of the game. In the 33rd minute Lautaro Mancebo shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Elia Lepre saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. After having played for 35 minutes, Alberto Tafalla managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Mexico's supporters crossed their fingers, but Alberto Tafalla was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Elia Lepre came out of the goal in the 37th minute to try and stop a shot by Mexico's Joel Gaona. But to his dismay, Joel Gaona quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 0-2. Francesco Primavera fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 44th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Dante Lacasa having to interfere.

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. Alberto Tafalla blasted a shot towards the goal in the 52nd minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Elia Lepre having to make a save. If Alberto Tafalla had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 68th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. With a little luck, S.C. Monte Marino's Elia Lepre got control of the ball when Lautaro Mancebo tried to sneak it across the goal line. An unexpectedly hard shot by Ernesto Piacentini in the 74th minute of play forced Mexico's goalkeeper Dante Lacasa to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. With an all-out effort, Mexico's Elia Lepre threw himself towards the right post 82 minutes into the match and grabbed hold of the ball from Joel Gaona, which otherwise would have been placed in the net. Through an outstanding action, after 88 minutes, Elia Lepre successfully got his hands on the ball before it slid into the goal at the right post. 93 minutes into the game, Ferruccio Scivittaro was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. S.C. Monte Marino's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Mexico the free kick. In a very dangerous position, a player in S.C. Monte Marino fell when an opponent tried to get the ball from him in the 93rd minute. Penalty! Joel Gaona shot the penalty kick right outside the post. Mexico played a much better game than S.C. Monte Marino and deserved their victory. The S.C. Monte Marino players were clearly disappointed as they left the ground.