Challenge

Virginia Bolten
Spectators: 40 (Terracing: 31, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Joel Gaona took the kick off in the first half of the match. Martin Mele didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Facundo Cadaval went, in the 3rd minute, to the upper right corner, 0-1 was the resulting score. Dante Lacasa made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Haroldo Erruki in the 6th minute of play. In the 10th minute, Joel Gaona 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: 0-2. Martin Mele came out of the goal in the 13th minute to try and stop a shot by Mexico's Joel Gaona. But to his dismay, Joel Gaona quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 0-3. A collision led to Mexico getting a freekick after 21 minutes play. Alberto Tafalla hit a great ball. In the 29th minute of the match Mexico got a corner. Acratas Unidos'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. Evelio Gines hit a great freekick 35 minutes into the match. Alberto Tafalla sent away a hard shot on goal in the 36th minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. A collision led to Acratas Unidos getting a freekick after 38 minutes play. Gervasio Montes hit a great ball. Martin Mele took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Lautaro Mancebo, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. 42 minutes into the match, Acratas Unidos's goal looked a bit too open when Alberto Tafalla came free, but Martin Mele reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Mexico's Joel Gaona was first on the ball when the corner was shot and he dangerously headed the ball towards goal, but Martin Mele in the goal jumped up to prevent it from getting in. Dante Lacasa made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Pablo Filipo in the 44th minute of play. In the 45th match minute, Acratas Unidos was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Haroldo Erruki to maneuver through the defense. Mexico's attacker deliberately struck the ball against an opponent to win a corner for his team. The corner was taken by Joel Gaona in the 47th minute. The corner led Mexico's Joel Gaona to fire away a dangerous shot which Martin Mele despite some difficulties managed to get hold on the ball.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Pablo Filipo stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. 52 minutes into the match, Acratas Unidos's goal looked a bit too open when Joel Gaona came free, but Martin Mele reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. It seemed to be an obvious goal in the 57th minute, but Martin Mele got his fingers on the ball or the save, leaving Acratas Unidos hanging dry this time. Alberto Tafalla recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 58th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. In the 62nd minute, Luca Zorita made a precise shot to the right of Martin Mele. Acratas Unidos's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 0-5. 68 minutes into the match, Joel Gaona had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Martin Mele. Acratas Unidos's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Joel Gaona was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 0-6. After a rather tough play, Acratas Unidos's Gervasio Montes got a free kick in the 74th minute. Martin Mele made an important save on a dangerous shot by Lautaro Mancebo in the 82nd minute. The crowd rose to their feet as Joel Gaona kicked a wonderful shot that went in to the left of a diving Martin Mele. That made the score 0-7 in the 83 minute of play. Martin Mele showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Alberto Tafalla in the 88th minute of the match. Martin Mele made an important save on a dangerous shot by Lautaro Mancebo in the 90th minute. Dante Lacasa took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Pablo Filipo, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Alberto Tafalla sent away a hard shot on goal in the 95th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. When the match was over Mexico could go home with a victory in their luggage, having controlled the game far better than Acratas Unidos throughout the match.