Challenge

Nova Stadium
Spectators: 43 (Terracing: 33, Seating: 10, 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. Nova Soccer's Maurilio Duque played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Lautaro Mancebo in the 4th minute of play. After some careless play in the Mexico defense, Edinson Flores 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. Maurilio Duque took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Luca Zorita, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. 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 13th minute. After a rather tough play, Mexico's Macos Graciani got a free kick in the 13th minute. After some careless play in the Nova Soccer defense, Joel Gaona kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Maurilio Duque. The Nova Soccer fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Maurilio Duque should have stopped the shot. 19 minutes into the match, Nova Soccer's goal looked a bit too open when Lautaro Mancebo came free, but Maurilio Duque reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 23rd minute, Edinson Flores reached a very good position and smashed the ball with a huge effort into the net, just to the left of Dante Lacasa. The goal made the score 2-1. An unexpectedly hard shot by Facundo Cadaval in the 29th minute of play forced Nova Soccer's goalkeeper Maurilio Duque to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. 31 minutes into the match, Nova Soccer's goal looked a bit too open when Luca Zorita came free, but Maurilio Duque reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Maurilio Duque took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Lautaro Mancebo, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Maurilio Duque showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Lautaro Mancebo, who was totally free with the ball in the 34th minute. Dante Lacasa made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Edinson Flores in the 35th minute of play. If Lautaro Mancebo had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 37th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Lucas Horna kicked well hit freekick during the 38th minute of the match. The corner went over the outstretched arms of Nova Soccer's goalie and right to Joel Gaona. He fired away a shot at goal, but the shot had too much spin, and it went just outside the goal. Nova Soccer's manager breathed a sigh of relief on the sidelines as his team had managed to escape an almost certain goal.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Piero Quispe to make the kick off. Maurilio Duque made an important save on a dangerous shot by Facundo Cadaval in the 51st minute. Dante Lacasa took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Donat Collier, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Lautaro Mancebo who was well placed in front of the goal fired away a dangerous shot that in the 56thth minute tested the skills of Maurilio Duque when he managed to save the team from getting behind. If Lautaro Mancebo had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 57th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. An unexpectedly hard shot by Joel Gaona in the 65th minute of play forced Nova Soccer's goalkeeper Maurilio Duque to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 68th minute Mexico were awarded a corner. Joel Gaona went to the cornerflag to take it. The corner led Mexico's Joel Gaona to fire away a dangerous shot which Maurilio Duque despite some difficulties managed to get hold on the ball. Nova Soccer's Maurilio Duque played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Luca Zorita in the 71st minute of play. Maurilio Duque made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Joel Gaona in the 74th minute of play. 78 minutes into the game, Donat Collier cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 3-1. Dante Lacasa was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. After a rather tough play, Nova Soccer's Edinson Flores got a free kick in the 81st minute. Lautaro Mancebo in the 82ndth minute had a little luck and got a chance for a shot in front of the goal. Without hesitation aimed to the right of Maurilio Duque, who managed to lunge to the right direction and made a save. A collision led to Nova Soccer getting a freekick after 84 minutes play. Arrigo Dorigatti hit a great ball. Nova Soccer's Maurilio Duque proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 87th minute of the match, managed to save Nova Soccer from getting a goal against them. Lautaro Mancebo fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 89th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Maurilio Duque having to interfere. Maurilio Duque showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Alberto Tafalla, who was totally free with the ball in the 92nd minute. 93 minutes had been played when some careless play by Nova Soccer's defense caused the ball to cross the line for a corner. Joel Gaona was slow to take the kick. During this time Mexico's players had a chance to rest. Mexico's Luca Rouco was first on the ball when the corner was shot and he dangerously headed the ball towards goal, but Maurilio Duque in the goal jumped up to prevent it from getting in. With his leg Maurilio Duque managed to avoid a goal in the 93rdth minute, when Mexico's Macos Graciani fired away a shot with a lot of spin towards his right hand side. The Nova Soccer support was delighted with a win in a match that could easily have ended differently.