Challenge

Pardubice
Spectators: 43 (Terracing: 33, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) Pardubice Hurricanes's Vítek Bittner 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. Dante Lacasa showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Vítek Bittner, who was totally free with the ball in the 7th minute. When Josef Štětka fell near the penalty area in the 7th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Pardubice Hurricanes's protests and gave Josef Štětka a yellow card for diving instead. In the 7th minute, Josef Štětka hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Přemek Ouředník made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Lautaro Mancebo in the 8th minute of play. After having played for 10 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. Pardubice Hurricanes's Přemek Ouředník played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Joel Gaona in the 15th minute of play. In the 22nd minute Lautaro Mancebo shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Přemek Ouředník saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Přemek Ouředník showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Joel Gaona, who was totally free with the ball in the 25th minute. In the 27th minute Luca Zorita shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Přemek Ouředník saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Anton Rubáš sent away a hard shot on goal in the 29th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. In the 34th minute of the match, Vítek Bittner tried to roll the ball into the goal by the right post, but Dante Lacasa saw his intentions and got control of the ball before it passed the line. Pardubice Hurricanes's Vítek Bittner suffered a sore thigh after 37 minutes and couldn't finish the game. Facundo Cadaval's late challenge caught a Pardubice Hurricanes's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Facundo Cadaval helped the player get up and apologised. In the 39th minute, Facundo Cadaval hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Svatomír Krajíček's shot from long distance in the 39th minute was not bad at all, but Mexico's Dante Lacasa knew what was happening and pushed the ball into his arms just before it hit the right post. If Jiří Rychtář had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 42nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. No-one was surprised that the home team were leading 1-0 at half-time.

In the 53rd minute Jiří Rychtář 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. Facundo Cadaval sent away a hard shot on goal in the 55th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Joel Gaona received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 57th minute. Přemek Ouředník tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Joel Gaona recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 59th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Mexico's Dante Lacasa played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Jiří Rychtář in the 60th minute of play. After 64 played minutes Pardubice Hurricanes got a freekick which was hit by Ervín Brázda. Přemek Ouředník took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Alberto Tafalla, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 67th minute of the match Mexico got a corner. Pardubice Hurricanes's goalie ran out to the linesman to protest the call, but the linesman resolutely pointed his flag at the cornerflag. Joel Gaona ran over to the corner to take the kick. The corner went over the outstretched arms of Pardubice Hurricanes's goalie and right to Facundo Cadaval. He fired away a shot at goal, but the shot had too much spin, and it went just outside the goal. Pardubice Hurricanes's manager breathed a sigh of relief on the sidelines as his team had managed to escape an almost certain goal. Dante Lacasa showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Jiří Rychtář, who was totally free with the ball in the 72nd minute. Luca Zorita received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 76th minute. Přemek Ouředník tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Lautaro Mancebo fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 77th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Přemek Ouředník having to interfere. 80 minutes into the match, Mexico's goal looked a bit too open when Jiří Rychtář came free, but Dante Lacasa reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Ervín Brázda hit a great freekick 84 minutes into the match. The long shot by Joel Gaona in the 85th minute really tested Přemek Ouředník's skills. The ball was on its way into the goal to the left of him when he managed to stretch himself and save the shot and avoid a goal. Facundo Cadaval hit a great freekick 93 minutes into the match. Dante Lacasa showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Jiří Rychtář in the 95th minute of the match. Many of Mexico's supporters were seen to leave the ground early as it became clear their team was going to lose. Mexico may have spent more time on the ball, but Pardubice Hurricanes were more willing to take their chances and they walked away with the win.