Challenge

Karaiskakis Stadium
Spectators: 44 (Terracing: 34, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Dimitris Koudas started the match with the kick off. Takis Nestoriou made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Alberto Tafalla in the 3rd minute of play. Mexico were awarded a corner in the 4th minute after Olympiacos FC's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Joel Gaona took the corner. In the 5th match minute, Mexico was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Luca Rouco to maneuver through the defense. Luca Rouco was in a good position and ended up with the ball after Mexico's free kick, but he didn't get a good hit on the ball and blazed it high and to the right of the goal. Takis Nestoriou didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Joel Gaona went, in the 7th minute, to the upper right corner, 0-1 was the resulting score. In the 10th minute the ball was on its way in behind Olympiacos FC's goalkeeper Takis Nestoriou, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. Mexico were awarded a corner in the 12th minute after Olympiacos FC's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Joel Gaona took the corner. After 13 minutes, Alexis Dellios mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Olympiacos FC and the Mexico players grew even worse after the yellow card. 15 minutes into the match, Olympiacos FC's goal looked a bit too open when Joel Gaona came free, but Takis Nestoriou reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Joel Gaona recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 16th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. 18 minutes into the game, Grigoris Plexioudas was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Olympiacos FC's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Mexico the free kick. 20 minutes into the match, Joel Gaona had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Takis Nestoriou. Olympiacos FC's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Joel Gaona was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 0-2. Thanos Panagiotatos'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. Thanos Panagiotatos helped the player get up and apologised. Thanos Panagiotatos kicked well hit freekick during the 23rd minute of the match. Takis Nestoriou made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Lautaro Mancebo in the 24th minute of play. Takis Nestoriou 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 25th minute. In the 26th minute, Joel Gaona 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. Luca Zorita fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 29th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Takis Nestoriou having to interfere. In the 34th 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: 0-3. The supporters of Olympiacos FC booed when Mexico was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 37 match minutes in a wonderful position. Facundo Cadaval didn't get a good kick on the ball. Olympiacos FC's Markos Kareklopoulos shoveled away a really nice long shot in the 38th minute of play. The shot was stopped by Dante Lacasa but with some difficulty. Grigoris Plexioudas hit a great freekick 39 minutes into the match. Alberto Tafalla sent away a hard shot on goal in the 42nd minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. In the 44th match minute, Olympiacos FC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Thanos Panagiotatos to maneuver through the defense. Lautaro Mancebo blasted a shot towards the goal in the 45th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Takis Nestoriou having to make a save. Luca Rouco hit a great freekick 46 minutes into the match. The crowd was extremely unhappy with the home team's performance in the first half. They were losing 0-3.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Joel Gaona made a kick off. Alberto Tafalla sent away a hard shot on goal in the 54th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. When the match had gone on for 55 minutes, Alberto Tafalla took a quick shot and it went in 0-5 without a chance for Takis Nestoriou to make any attempt to save it. Olympiacos FC made a substitution. Kostas Tziolas replaced Alexis Dellios. After 60 played minutes Olympiacos FC got a freekick which was hit by Thanos Panagiotatos. Luca Zorita could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 64th minute of the match, but Takis Nestoriou made a huge save. Olympiacos FC's goalkeeper couldn't reach when Joel Gaona 68 minutes into the game got a good kick on the ball which found its way into goal just inside left pole. 0-6. Olympiacos FC's Takis Nestoriou proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 71st minute of the match, managed to save Olympiacos FC from getting a goal against them. Takis Nestoriou took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Joel Gaona, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Takis Nestoriou 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 78th minute. 80 minutes had been played when some careless play by Olympiacos FC'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. Mexico's Luca Rouco was first on the ball when the corner was shot and he dangerously headed the ball towards goal, but Takis Nestoriou in the goal jumped up to prevent it from getting in. Alberto Tafalla blasted a shot towards the goal in the 84th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Takis Nestoriou having to make a save. Lautaro Mancebo could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 86th minute of the match, but Takis Nestoriou made a huge save. In the 88th minute Alberto Tafalla shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Takis Nestoriou saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. After some fancy dribbling in the 89th minute, Lautaro Mancebo managed to get in a good position for a shot. Mexico's supporters rose to their feet, but Lautaro Mancebo was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Takis Nestoriou breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. After a rather tough play, Olympiacos FC's Avraam Chalkias got a free kick in the 90th minute. In the 92nd minute, Mexico's Lautaro Mancebo ran free of his marker and smoothly shot the ball into the goal behind Takis Nestoriou. Takis Nestoriou yelled at his defense, as they had left him out to dry. 0-8. When the final whistle sounded Mexico left the ground with the victory after a much better performance than Olympiacos FC.