Challenge

Stadio Avenza
Spectators: 42 (Terracing: 32, 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. Joel Gaona started the match with the kick off. Emilio Rizzo recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 3rd minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. After some careless play in the Mexico defense, Corrado Contestabile kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Dante Lacasa. The Mexico fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Dante Lacasa should have stopped the shot. When Alberto Tafalla came up free with the goalie in the 8th minute, the Mexico fans jumped to their feet. But the shot missed the goal by a fraction of an inch, and the fans sat back down disappointed that Alberto Tafalla couldn't finish the play. Emiliano Polito showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Joel Gaona in the 10th minute of the match. Dante Lacasa made an important save on a dangerous shot by Emilio Rizzo in the 16th minute. The audience thought a goal was coming when Emilio Rizzo got free with Dante Lacasa in the 16th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. In the 17th minute, Alberto Tafalla made a precise shot to the right of Emiliano Polito. Duri come il marmo's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 1-1. Emiliano Polito showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Luca Zorita in the 20th minute of the match. 22 minutes into the match, Mexico's goal looked a bit too open when Emilio Rizzo came free, but Dante Lacasa reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. If Lautaro Mancebo had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 27th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Mexico's Joel Gaona got a good chance for a goal in the 29th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. The audience thought a goal was coming when Emilio Rizzo got free with Dante Lacasa in the 31st minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. An unexpectedly hard shot by Alberto Tafalla in the 36th minute of play forced Duri come il marmo's goalkeeper Emiliano Polito to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 41st minute of the match Mary Cau sent off a long shot with destination to the right of the goalkeeper, but Dante Lacasa skillfully saved the ball. The supporters of Duri come il marmo booed when Mexico was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 42 match minutes in a wonderful position. Felix Luque didn't get a good kick on the ball. In the 45th minute, Alberto Tafalla 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: 1-2. Even after changing tactics the home team jogged off the field with a 1-2 deficit. They would have to work harder if they wanted to turn things around in the second half.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Emilio Rizzo to make the kick off. In the 53rd minute, Alberigo Addari ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Dante Lacasa was frozen by the shot and now it was 2-2. In the 55th minute, Mary Cau hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. 59 minutes into the match, Mexico's goal looked a bit too open when Emilio Rizzo came free, but Dante Lacasa reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. With an all-out effort, Mexico's Emiliano Polito threw himself towards the right post 62 minutes into the match and grabbed hold of the ball from Alberto Tafalla, which otherwise would have been placed in the net. Duri come il marmo made a substitution. Flavio Lattanzio replaced Fabiano Natale. In the 65th minute of the match Mexico got a corner. Duri come il marmo'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. Lautaro Mancebo who was well placed in front of the goal fired away a dangerous shot that in the 68thth minute tested the skills of Emiliano Polito when he managed to save the team from getting behind. In the 69th minute, Alberto Tafalla made a precise shot to the right of Emiliano Polito. Duri come il marmo's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 2-3. Duri come il marmo's Carter Romanese was substituted for Corrado Contestabile. Duri come il marmo made a substitution. Cristoforo Di Loreto replaced Mary Cau. 78 minutes into the match, Duri come il marmo's goal looked a bit too open when Joel Gaona came free, but Emiliano Polito reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 84th match minute, Mexico was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Facundo Cadaval to maneuver through the defense. Emiliano Polito showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Alberto Tafalla in the 86th minute of the match. 91 minutes into the game, Alberigo Addari cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 3-4. Dante Lacasa was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. After 96 minutes Duri come il marmo'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 Joel Gaona to fire away a dangerous shot which Emiliano Polito despite some difficulties managed to get hold on the ball. The away crowd were delighted with the way their team had played and cheered loudly when the final whistle sounded. Mexico walked away with the win, even though the match was close until the end.