Challenge

Estadio Azteca
Spectators: 45 (Terracing: 35, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Ştefan Coșereanu got the match started through his kick off. Ştefan Coșereanu took the ball and in the 5 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Dante Lacasa. Dante Lacasa dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 0-1. After 10 minutes VIP'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. Dante Lacasa stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Dobri Karapetrov's shot from short distance in the 12th minute. With a little luck, VIP's Dumitru Berca got control of the ball when Lautaro Mancebo tried to sneak it across the goal line. An unexpectedly hard shot by Ronny Brovall in the 15th minute of play forced Mexico's goalkeeper Dante Lacasa to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Through an outstanding action, after 16 minutes, Dumitru Berca successfully got his hands on the ball before it slid into the goal at the right post. In the 18th minute Dobri Karapetrov 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. Dumitru Berca was out of position in the 21 minute of play, and Lautaro Mancebo capitalized on the mistake with a soft shot into the goal. Lautaro Mancebo really showed his touch with that goal: 1-1. Lautaro Mancebo took the ball and in the 24 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Dumitru Berca. Dumitru Berca dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 2-1. VIP's attacker deliberately struck the ball against an opponent to win a corner for his team. The corner was taken by Ilie Buhuș in the 31st minute. Dante Lacasa made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Ştefan Coșereanu in the 32nd minute of play. Sebastian Ţugui fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 37th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Dante Lacasa having to interfere. An unexpectedly hard shot by Joel Gaona in the 40th minute of play forced VIP's goalkeeper Dumitru Berca to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. The audience thought a goal was coming when Joel Gaona got free with Dumitru Berca in the 42nd minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Dante Lacasa made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Sebastian Ţugui in the 43rd minute of play. Lautaro Mancebo sent away a hard shot on goal in the 44th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Dante Lacasa made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Ştefan Coșereanu in the 47th minute of play. All the noise was coming from the home fans when the whistle went for half-time. The home team had fought hardest to put themselves in a deserved lead.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Joel Gaona to make the kick off. An unexpectedly hard shot by Lautaro Mancebo in the 51st minute of play forced VIP's goalkeeper Dumitru Berca to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. After 52 minutes VIP'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. Ştefan Coșereanu could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 55th minute of the match, but Dante Lacasa made a huge save. With a little luck, Mexico's Dante Lacasa got control of the ball when Ştefan Coșereanu tried to sneak it across the goal line. In the 56th minute Lautaro Mancebo shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Dumitru Berca saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 56th minute, Lautaro Mancebo left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The Mexico fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 3-1. Dumitru Berca 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 60th minute. After 63 minutes VIP'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 well-hit corner resulted in Luca Rouco heading the ball towards the goal, but to his dismay he misdirected it and missed the goal completely. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Luca Zorita in the 63rd minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Dumitru Berca prevented the ball from getting in the gole. 66 minutes into the match, VIP's goal looked a bit too open when Joel Gaona came free, but Dumitru Berca reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 67th match minute, VIP was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Ilie Buhuș to maneuver through the defense. In the 71stth minute of the game Dobri Karapetrov who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Mexico's Dante Lacasa was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. The supporters of Mexico booed when VIP was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 72 match minutes in a wonderful position. Dumitru Podgoreanu didn't get a good kick on the ball. Luca Zorita recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 73rd minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. A collision led to VIP getting a freekick after 75 minutes play. Dobri Karapetrov hit a great ball. After some careless play in the VIP defense, Alberto Tafalla kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Dumitru Berca. The VIP fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Dumitru Berca should have stopped the shot. If Alberto Tafalla had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 79th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. Dumitru Berca made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Lautaro Mancebo in the 82nd minute of play. After 84 played minutes Mexico got a freekick which was hit by Alberto Tafalla. In the 87th minute Joel Gaona shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Dumitru Berca saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Dumitru Berca made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Alberto Tafalla in the 88th minute of play. Dumitru Berca 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 93rd minute. Alberto Tafalla kicked well hit freekick during the 94th minute of the match. For all the effort they put into the match, the VIP players left disappointed. They had fought hard, but couldn't break down the home team's defense. The match ended in a win for Mexico.