Challenge

Frederik Steiner
Spectators: 43 (Terracing: 33, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) Mexico's Joel Gaona 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. 3 minutes into the match, Rayo Tharkad's goal looked a bit too open when Joel Gaona came free, but Rune Snäll reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After 4 minutes Rayo Tharkad'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. The corner led Mexico's Joel Gaona to fire away a dangerous shot which Rune Snäll despite some difficulties managed to get hold on the ball. Dante Lacasa made a fantastic save in the 7th minute, when Manolo Lacorte sent off a good shot on target. Rune Snäll made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Alberto Tafalla in the 8th minute of play. After a rather tough play, Rayo Tharkad's Gilesindo Alonso got a free kick in the 14th minute. Joel Gaona took a chance and fired a shot far from the goal in the 15th minute, but it turned out to be a dangerous situation for Rune Snäll. Rayo Tharkad's goalkeeper really had to stretch himself to stop the ball from crossing the goal line. The supporters of Mexico booed when Rayo Tharkad was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 20 match minutes in a wonderful position. Hector Dorado didn't get a good kick on the ball. 24 minutes into the game, Hondo Arratia cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 1-1. Dante Lacasa was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. After a rather tough play, Mexico's Luca Rouco got a free kick in the 28th minute. With his leg Dante Lacasa managed to avoid a goal in the 30thth minute, when Rayo Tharkad's Humberto Leon fired away a shot with a lot of spin towards his right hand side. After 32 minutes of play, the referee blew the whistle. It was a penalty for Mexico! Dante Lacasa had in the 33rdth minute some difficulties stopping Zumar Figueroa's well aimed penalty as it nearly passed him on his left side, but he still managed to hold the ball. In the 35th minute, Lautaro Mancebo got an opportunity to score, but he didn't get a solid hit on the ball and ended up kicking it wide of the goal. Rune Snäll 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 39th minute. Dante Lacasa didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Humberto Leon went, in the 43rd minute, to the upper right corner, 2-1 was the resulting score. The away team players looked dejected as the walked off the pitch at half time. They had fought hard, but were still losing 2-1.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Manolo Lacorte stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. Dante Lacasa showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Manolo Lacorte in the 53rd minute of the match. Lautaro Mancebo sent away a hard shot on goal in the 61st minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. 63 minutes into the match, Joel Gaona notched a goal, 2-2, to the right of Rayo Tharkad's Rune Snäll. Rune Snäll was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. The supporters of Mexico booed when Rayo Tharkad was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 66 match minutes in a wonderful position. Gilesindo Alonso didn't get a good kick on the ball. If Alberto Tafalla had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 69th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Facundo Cadaval fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 73rd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Rune Snäll having to interfere. In the 76th minute, Rayo Tharkad's goalie took a deep sigh of relief after Lautaro Mancebo fired away a hard shot that went just outside the left post. Dante Lacasa showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Adolfo Hevia in the 81st minute of the match. Rune Snäll was a little too slow when Lautaro Mancebo got a fine hit on the ball which went right into the goal in the 83rd minute. The score was now 2-3. In the 86th match minute, Mexico was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Luca Rouco to maneuver through the defense. In the 89th minute, Juan Bermejo hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. In the 90th minute, Mexico's Lautaro Mancebo dribbled the ball into the box and hit a shot with the outside of his foot, sending the keeper the wrong way. 2-4. Mexico's Dante Lacasa played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Manolo Lacorte in the 95th minute of play. Mexico's supporters were very happy and cheered loudly because their team had won after a very close match.