Challenge

Stade Michel Hidalgo
Spectators: 45 (Terracing: 35, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) U.S.Normande's Youri Borderie 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. A collision led to U.S.Normande getting a freekick after 5 minutes play. Rolf Custermans hit a great ball. Youri Borderie blasted a shot towards the goal in the 8th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Dante Lacasa having to make a save. With a little luck, Mexico's Dante Lacasa got control of the ball when Youri Borderie tried to sneak it across the goal line. U.S.Normande's Aurélien Mussard landed with the leg in an unnatural angle after a tough challenge. The leg was fractured. 10 minutes into the game, Leonardo Leoz was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Mexico's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave U.S.Normande the free kick. In the 10th match minute, Mexico was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Leonardo Leoz to maneuver through the defense. Dante Lacasa was a little too slow when Youri Borderie got a fine hit on the ball which went right into the goal in the 11th minute. The score was now 1-0. After 28 minutes of play, Mexico's Joel Gaona made it 1-1 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Mikael Damm was left in no man's land by his defense there! Mikael Damm 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 32nd minute. If Joel Gaona had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 33rd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Mikael Damm 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 34th minute. Lautaro Mancebo recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 38th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. In the 41st minute Alberto Tafalla shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Mikael Damm saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 42nd match minute, Mexico was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Leonardo Leoz to maneuver through the defense. The score stood at 1-1 when the half time whistle went. Both sets of players seemed reasonably pleased with how the match was going.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Joel Gaona to strike the kick off in the second half. Lautaro Mancebo received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 54th minute. Mikael Damm tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. U.S.Normande's Mikael Damm played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Alberto Tafalla in the 56th minute of play. 56 minutes into the game, Alberto Tafalla recieved a splendid long ball, split the defenders, and gently placed the ball to the left of Mikael Damm. Alberto Tafalla showed that you don't have to tear a hole in the net to score, 1-2. Dante Lacasa made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Youri Borderie in the 61st minute of play. In the 62nd minute Joel Gaona shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Mikael Damm saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. After a rather tough play, U.S.Normande's Mike Constantin got a free kick in the 66th minute. Youri Borderie fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 68th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Dante Lacasa having to interfere. Rosendo Sesuldo'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. Rosendo Sesuldo helped the player get up and apologised. In the 70th minute, Rosendo Sesuldo hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. U.S.Normande's Mikael Damm played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Joel Gaona in the 72nd minute of play. In the 73rd minute of the match Mexico got a corner. U.S.Normande'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. 74 minutes into the game, Mexico's Macos Graciani nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Mikael Damm made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 1-3. If Lautaro Mancebo had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 79th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. U.S.Normande's Mikael Damm played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Luca Zorita in the 83rd minute of play. Mikael Damm made a fantastic save in the 85th minute, when Facundo Cadaval sent off a good shot on target. Luca Zorita fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 87th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Mikael Damm having to interfere. The supporters of U.S.Normande booed when Mexico was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 88 match minutes in a wonderful position. Leonardo Leoz didn't get a good kick on the ball. When Rosendo Sesuldo was, once again, overly rough in his play he received his second yellow card and was ordered off the ground. 91 minutes had been played. Rosendo Sesuldo kicked well hit freekick during the 92nd minute of the match. The crowd rose to their feet as Alberto Tafalla kicked a wonderful shot that went in to the left of a diving Mikael Damm. That made the score 1-4 in the 95 minute of play. The U.S.Normande fans had already started to leave before the final whistle blew. Mexico were clearly better and deserved to take the win.