Challenge

Estadio Azteca
Spectators: 45 (Terracing: 35, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) VIP's Ştefan Coșereanu 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. Lautaro Mancebo could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 3rd minute of the match, but Dumitru Berca made a huge save. 5 minutes into the match, VIP's goalkeeper Dumitru Berca had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Lautaro Mancebo. An unexpectedly hard shot by Dobri Karapetrov in the 8th minute of play forced Mexico's goalkeeper Dante Lacasa to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 11th minute the ball was on its way in behind VIP's goalkeeper Dumitru Berca, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. Dumitru Berca was in the perfect position, and the defense had done a good job marking him, but Joel Gaona showcased his skills and made a perfect shot to score 1-0 in the 13 minute of play. In the 15th minute, Sebastian Ţugui hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. 16 minutes into the match, VIP's goalkeeper Dumitru Berca had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Lautaro Mancebo. 17 minutes had been played when some careless play by VIP'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. In the 18th match minute Joel Gaona ran free in the middle of the field and shot a long shot which scored behind a totally surprised Dumitru Berca. 2-0. Dante Lacasa didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Dumitru Podgoreanu went, in the 23rd minute, to the upper right corner, 2-1 was the resulting score. Alberto Tafalla fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 27th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Dumitru Berca having to interfere. Dante Lacasa took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Ştefan Coșereanu, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. After some fancy dribbling in the 34th minute, Dobri Karapetrov managed to get in a good position for a shot. VIP's supporters rose to their feet, but Dobri Karapetrov was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Dante Lacasa breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. VIP's Dumitru Berca played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Joel Gaona in the 37th minute of play. Dumitru Berca came out of the goal in the 37th 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 3-1. With an all-out effort, Mexico's Dumitru Berca threw himself towards the right post 41 minutes into the match and grabbed hold of the ball from Joel Gaona, which otherwise would have been placed in the net. Dante Lacasa took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Dobri Karapetrov, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Joel Gaona in the 45th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Dumitru Berca prevented the ball from getting in the gole. All the noise was coming from the home fans when the whistle went for half-time. The home team had fought hardest to put themselves in a deserved lead.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Joel Gaona was the one to do the kick off. After 53 played minutes VIP got a freekick which was hit by Dobri Karapetrov. The audience was convinced that Lautaro Mancebo's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Dumitru Berca was relentless in the 55th minute of the game. Dumitru Berca took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Lautaro Mancebo, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. 59 minutes into the match, Mexico's goalkeeper Dante Lacasa had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Ştefan Coșereanu. VIP were awarded a corner in the 61th minute after Mexico's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Ilie Buhuș took the corner. In the 63rd minute Alberto Tafalla shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Dumitru Berca saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. After 64 minutes VIP'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. In the 67th minute Joel Gaona shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Dumitru Berca saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. VIP's Dumitru Berca played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Lautaro Mancebo in the 69th minute of play. Mexico's Dante Lacasa proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 70th minute of the match, managed to save Mexico from getting a goal against them. After a rather tough play, VIP's Ionuț Cerchez got a free kick in the 73rd minute. Ionuț Cerchez kicked well hit freekick during the 76th minute of the match. Dante Lacasa showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Ştefan Coșereanu, who was totally free with the ball in the 78th minute. 82 minutes into the match, Alberto Tafalla had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Dumitru Berca. VIP's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Alberto Tafalla was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 5-1. After a rather tough play, VIP's Ilie Buhuș got a free kick in the 84th minute. In the 85th minute of the match Joel Gaona shot from a long distance. The ball could have gone into the goal to the right of the goalkeeper, but Dumitru Berca showed his good shape when he easily got hold of the ball. An unexpectedly hard shot by Joel Gaona in the 87th minute of play forced VIP's goalkeeper Dumitru Berca to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Dobri Karapetrov received a nice pass, split the defenders, and ran untouched towards the goal. Dante Lacasa came out and tried to block the shot, but Dobri Karapetrov slotted it home off the left post making it 5-2 in the 88th minute. Joel Gaona struck a weak shot in the 90th minute. Dumitru Berca didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Mexico. Ilie Buhuș kicked well hit freekick during the 92nd minute of the match. In the 93rd minute Lautaro Mancebo shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Dumitru Berca saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. After 96 played minutes Mexico got a freekick which was hit by Facundo Cadaval.