Challenge

Arena do Inferno
Spectators: 44 (Terracing: 34, 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. Pedrinho Paranaense fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 7th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Dante Lacasa having to interfere. Mauro-Facundo Buffon showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Lautaro Mancebo in the 11th minute of the match. If Florian Capasso had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 13th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. Dante Lacasa made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Florian Capasso in the 13th minute of play. If Alberto Tafalla had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 19th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. With an all-out effort, Merusca F&P - CIMZ's Dante Lacasa threw himself towards the right post 21 minutes into the match and grabbed hold of the ball from Florian Capasso, which otherwise would have been placed in the net. Merusca F&P - CIMZ's Mauro-Facundo Buffon played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Alberto Tafalla in the 23rd minute of play. Florian Capasso blasted a shot towards the goal in the 33rd minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Dante Lacasa having to make a save. Dante Lacasa showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Florian Capasso in the 33rd minute of the match. An unexpectedly hard shot by Joel Gaona in the 35th minute of play forced Merusca F&P - CIMZ's goalkeeper Mauro-Facundo Buffon to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Mexico were awarded a corner in the 36th minute after Merusca F&P - CIMZ's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Joel Gaona took the corner. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Florian Capasso in the 38th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Dante Lacasa prevented the ball from getting in the gole. In the 39th minute Alberto Tafalla shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Mauro-Facundo Buffon saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 42nd minute Joel Gaona shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Mauro-Facundo Buffon saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. After 43 played minutes Merusca F&P - CIMZ got a freekick which was hit by Marcinho Sabóia. Lautaro Mancebo struck a weak shot in the 44th minute. Mauro-Facundo Buffon didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Mexico. The home fans were very happy to see their team leading 1-0 at half-time.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Florian Capasso to strike the kick off in the second half. After 52 minutes, Fabian Meleșcanu mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Merusca F&P - CIMZ and the Mexico players grew even worse after the yellow card. After a rather tough play, Merusca F&P - CIMZ's Fabian Meleșcanu got a free kick in the 53rd minute. Luca Zorita 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. Pedrinho Paranaense hit a great freekick 55 minutes into the match. Merusca F&P - CIMZ's Mauro-Facundo Buffon proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 57th minute of the match, managed to save Merusca F&P - CIMZ from getting a goal against them. Mauro-Facundo Buffon made a fantastic save in the 60th minute, when Lautaro Mancebo sent off a good shot on target. After 62 minutes Merusca F&P - CIMZ'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 Luca Zorita to fire away a dangerous shot which Mauro-Facundo Buffon despite some difficulties managed to get hold on the ball. Mauro-Facundo Buffon made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Joel Gaona in the 65th minute of play. Merusca F&P - CIMZ made a substitution. Geovani Mangueira replaced Anderson Vidal. After 71 minutes of play Merusca F&P - CIMZ's Fabian Meleșcanu was too eager in his attempt to stop his opponent and brought him down. With that he got his second yellow card and was ordered off the ground. Mexico's Bautista Elvira was substituted for Lautaro Mancebo. Fabian Meleșcanu hit a great freekick 73 minutes into the match. The audience thought a goal was coming when Bautista Elvira got free with Mauro-Facundo Buffon in the 77th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. After a defensive mix-up in Merusca F&P - CIMZ's zone, Facundo Cadaval stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Mauro-Facundo Buffon came out of the goal and Facundo Cadaval 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 81st minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Mauro-Facundo Buffon having to make a save. Roberto Bolt charged in rather forcefully in the 84th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Roberto Bolt the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. After 84 played minutes Merusca F&P - CIMZ got a freekick which was hit by Roberto Bolt. In the 86th minute the ball was on its way in behind Merusca F&P - CIMZ's goalkeeper Mauro-Facundo Buffon, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. Alberto Tafalla sent away a hard shot on goal in the 87th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Macos Graciani made in the 90th minute of the game a sloppy throw-in which Joel Gaona however managed to control. Dante Lacasa made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Hélder Fonseca in the 92nd minute of play. Joel Gaona's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Mauro-Facundo Buffon read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 94th minute of play. The Merusca F&P - CIMZ support was delighted with a win in a match that could easily have ended differently.