Challenge

Estádio Ayrton Senna
Spectators: 40 (Terracing: 31, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) MEL - ULTIMATE's Jailson Fernandez 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. Henrique Arruda made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Alberto Tafalla in the 9th minute of play. After 13 played minutes Mexico got a freekick which was hit by Felix Luque. In the 14th minute Renan Valladares 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. Mexico's Dante Lacasa proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 17th minute of the match, managed to save Mexico from getting a goal against them. Henrique Arruda showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Lautaro Mancebo in the 21st minute of the match. Lautaro Mancebo scored 0-1 in the 21st match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Henrique Arruda, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. After a defensive mix-up in Mexico's zone, Renan Valladares stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Dante Lacasa came out of the goal and Renan Valladares 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 31st minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Henrique Arruda having to make a save. After having played for 32 minutes, Renan Valladares managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. MEL - ULTIMATE's supporters crossed their fingers, but Renan Valladares was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Henrique Arruda took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Facundo Cadaval, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 38th match minute, MEL - ULTIMATE was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Claudinei Abreu to maneuver through the defense. In the 45th minute Mexico were awarded a corner. Joel Gaona went to the cornerflag to take it. The corner ended in Joel Gaona almost managing to get the ball behind the net, but MEL - ULTIMATE's Henrique Arruda did a great save. Even after changing tactics the home team jogged off the field with a 0-2 deficit. They would have to work harder if they wanted to turn things around in the second half.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Joel Gaona to make the kick off. Facundo Cadaval made a great header on Mexico's corner, it was just that MEL - ULTIMATE's Henrique Arruda managed to reach the ball for a save. After a defensive mix-up in Mexico's zone, Carlos Eduardo Mineiro stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Dante Lacasa came out of the goal and Carlos Eduardo Mineiro tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. With a little luck, MEL - ULTIMATE's Henrique Arruda got control of the ball when Lautaro Mancebo tried to sneak it across the goal line. With an all-out effort, Mexico's Henrique Arruda threw himself towards the right post 65 minutes into the match and grabbed hold of the ball from Joel Gaona, which otherwise would have been placed in the net. An unexpectedly hard shot by Jailson Fernandez in the 68th minute of play forced Mexico's goalkeeper Dante Lacasa to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 73rd minute, Vinícius de Godoi hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. A hard shot by Joel Gaona from long distance, 73 minutes into the match, got Henrique Arruda's attention. Through a fast twist with his body, he could stop the ball from going in on his right side. In the 75th minute Renan Valladares 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. Mexico's Dante Lacasa played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Jailson Fernandez in the 77th minute of play. MEL - ULTIMATE's attacker deliberately struck the ball against an opponent to win a corner for his team. The corner was taken by Hugo Arce in the 78th minute. MEL - ULTIMATE's Hugo Arce was first on the ball when the corner was shot and he dangerously headed the ball towards goal, but Dante Lacasa in the goal jumped up to prevent it from getting in. Henrique Arruda showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Luca Zorita, who was totally free with the ball in the 88th minute. 89 minutes had been played when some careless play by MEL - ULTIMATE's defense caused the ball to cross the line for a corner. Joel Gaona was slow to take the kick. During this time Mexico's players had a chance to rest. Joel Gaona sent away a hard shot on goal in the 90th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. In the 91st minute Jailson Fernandez 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. The audience thought a goal was coming when Alberto Tafalla got free with Henrique Arruda in the 94th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Mexico's fans were overjoyed with their teams well-earned victory and stayed in the stadium long after the final whistle to celebrate the win.