Challenge

Come out and play
Spectators: 43 (Terracing: 33, 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. Conference League winners's Iraklis Zafiriou played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Luca Zorita in the 3rd minute of play. Iraklis Zafiriou showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Joel Gaona in the 4th minute of the match. Lautaro Mancebo received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 6th minute. Iraklis Zafiriou tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Iraklis Zafiriou made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Alberto Tafalla in the 11th minute of play. Iraklis Zafiriou 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 12th minute. Alberto Tafalla fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 13th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Iraklis Zafiriou having to interfere. If Lautaro Mancebo had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 16th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Dante Lacasa made an important save on a dangerous shot by Akakios Kaikis in the 20th minute. Lautaro Mancebo struck a weak shot in the 23rd minute. Iraklis Zafiriou didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Mexico. Dante Lacasa made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Charis Leontiou in the 25th minute of play. Kyriakos Christodoulatos hit a great freekick 28 minutes into the match. Iraklis Zafiriou showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Lautaro Mancebo in the 30th minute of the match. In the 32nd minute Alberto Tafalla shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Iraklis Zafiriou saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Iraklis Zafiriou took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Alberto Tafalla, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Iraklis Zafiriou made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Alberto Tafalla in the 35th minute of play. Dante Lacasa showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Marinos Sarigiannidis, who was totally free with the ball in the 38th minute. In the 39th minute, Charis Leontiou hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. After having played for 40 minutes, Luca Zorita managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Mexico's supporters crossed their fingers, but Luca Zorita was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. In the 41st minute, Pipis Karagiotas hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. If Lautaro Mancebo had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 42nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After a very even first half the match was still tied. The players went to their respective dressing rooms to discuss the tactics for the second half.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Eufemio Andrade stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. After 52 minutes of play, Conference League winners's Marinos Sarigiannidis made it 1-0 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Dante Lacasa was left in no man's land by his defense there! If Alberto Tafalla had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 54th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Alberto Tafalla fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 67th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Iraklis Zafiriou having to interfere. Lautaro Mancebo's shot when he came free in front of the goal in the 68thth minute, Iraklis Zafiriou skillfully showed off with a save to what seemed to be an obvious goal. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Alberto Tafalla in the 71st managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Iraklis Zafiriou saved Conference League winners from getting behind. 73 minutes into the game, Conference League winners's Eufemio Andrade nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Dante Lacasa made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 2-0. Iraklis Zafiriou showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Alberto Tafalla in the 79th minute of the match. The Mexico fans' excitement grew in the 83rd match minute when Mexico's Alberto Tafalla looked to have a clear shot with the ball near the goal. The shot wasn't hard, but the ball still rolled over the goal line to make it 2-1 before the goalkeeper had a chance to intervene. In the 89th match minute, Mexico was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Luca Zorita to maneuver through the defense. Dante Lacasa made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Akakios Kaikis in the 95th minute of play.