Challenge

Arturo Umberto Illia
Spectators: 41 (Terracing: 32, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Joel Gaona started the match with the kick off. Eduardo Sancho's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Dante Lacasa read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 3rd minute of play. Eduardo Sancho could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 6th minute of the match, but Dante Lacasa made a huge save. Gaudencio Matro hit a great freekick 9 minutes into the match. After 14 minutes of play, Mexico's Alberto Tafalla made it 0-1 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Marcos Bela was left in no man's land by his defense there! 17 minutes into the match, Deportivo Pergamino's goal looked a bit too open when Joel Gaona came free, but Marcos Bela reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Marcos Bela showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Joel Gaona in the 20th minute of the match. Marcos Bela showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Joel Gaona in the 27th minute of the match. If Lautaro Mancebo had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 28th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After 31 minutes, Prudencio Jurgi mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Deportivo Pergamino and the Mexico players grew even worse after the yellow card. A collision led to Deportivo Pergamino getting a freekick after 31 minutes play. Prudencio Jurgi hit a great ball. After 32 played minutes Deportivo Pergamino got a freekick which was hit by Victorino Piorno. Marcos Bela showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Lautaro Mancebo in the 34th minute of the match. 34 minutes into the game, Lautaro Mancebo cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 0-3. Marcos Bela was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. Marcos Bela showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Alberto Tafalla in the 38th minute of the match. After 39th play minutes Joel Gaona shot 0-4, a short shot which went by Marcos Bela and just under the crossbar into goal. Luck had favoured the away team in the first, and they walked off with a 0-4 lead.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Eduardo Sancho to make the kick off. 51 minutes into the game, Felix Luque 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 Deportivo Pergamino the free kick. In the 50th minute, one of Mexico:s players had the ball in front of the goal but got pushed and fell. The referee felt it was an obvious case and blew a penalty for Mexico. The referee gave Deportivo Pergamino a penalty, 52 minutes into the game. The penalty shot was made by Prudencio Jurgi, who made a well placed shot into the net to the right of Mexico's Dante Lacasa. 1-4. Joel Gaona recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 54th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. The supporters of Mexico booed when Deportivo Pergamino was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 58 match minutes in a wonderful position. Tomas Filipo didn't get a good kick on the ball. Silvestre Argoitz kicked well hit freekick during the 61st minute of the match. An unexpectedly hard shot by Joel Gaona in the 68th minute of play forced Deportivo Pergamino's goalkeeper Marcos Bela to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. After having played for 70 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. 74 minutes into the match, Joel Gaona had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Marcos Bela. Deportivo Pergamino's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Joel Gaona was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 1-6. Thanks to some nice moves Lautaro Mancebo could shoot a difficult shot in the 77th minute, which Marcos Bela however easily saved by the left post. 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. Joel Gaona fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 81st minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Marcos Bela having to interfere. After 84 played minutes Deportivo Pergamino got a freekick which was hit by Remigio Gasteiz. 85 minutes into the game, Lautaro Mancebo recieved a splendid long ball, split the defenders, and gently placed the ball to the left of Marcos Bela. Lautaro Mancebo showed that you don't have to tear a hole in the net to score, 1-7. Alberto Tafalla could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 88th minute of the match, but Marcos Bela made a huge save. Dante Lacasa showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Eduardo Sancho in the 92nd minute of the match. Lautaro Mancebo spun around in front of the goal 95 minutes in the game, and got away a shot that, to his disappointment, went to the left of Deportivo Pergamino's goal. Facundo Cadaval sent away a hard shot on goal in the 97th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Mexico played a much better game than Deportivo Pergamino and deserved their victory. The Deportivo Pergamino players were clearly disappointed as they left the ground.