Challenge

Arena Xapadão
Spectators: 40 (Terracing: 31, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) Mexico's Joel Gaona 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. Dante Lacasa showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Jacinto Paraíba, who was totally free with the ball in the 7th minute. In the 9th minute, Victor Tróia hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. 10 minutes into the match, Mexico's Lautaro Mancebo sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Tiaguinho da Cunha narrowly saved just below the crossbar. In the 13th minute, Joel Gaona made a precise shot to the right of Tiaguinho da Cunha. Xapetuba Futebol Clube's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 0-1. In the 17th minute Lautaro Mancebo shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Tiaguinho da Cunha saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. The corner led to Mexico's Macos Graciani getting away a dangerous shot that went just outside the goal. In the 29th minute, Alberto Tafalla hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. 30 minutes into the match, Adriano Rodrigues dribbled the ball past the defender and swiftly kicked the ball to the left of Dante Lacasa, 1-1. Tiaguinho da Cunha came out of the goal in the 33rd 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 1-2. Amauri de Lima kicked well hit freekick during the 35th minute of the match. Mexico's Dante Lacasa played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Adriano Rodrigues in the 38th minute of play. Bernardo Soares hit a great freekick 38 minutes into the match. In the 40th match minute, Xapetuba Futebol Clube was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Jacinto Paraíba to maneuver through the defense. Lautaro Mancebo sent away a hard shot on goal in the 42nd minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. Joel Gaona blasted a shot towards the goal in the 46th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Tiaguinho da Cunha having to make a save. 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.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Adriano Rodrigues was the one to do the kick off. Mexico's Dante Lacasa played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Adriano Rodrigues in the 51st minute of play. In the 54th minute, Adriano Rodrigues got an opportunity to score, but he didn't get a solid hit on the ball and ended up kicking it wide of the goal. Tiaguinho da Cunha had in the 58thth minute some difficulties stopping Joel Gaona's well aimed penalty as it nearly passed him on his left side, but he still managed to hold the ball. The audience thought a goal was coming when Lautaro Mancebo got free with Tiaguinho da Cunha in the 62nd minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. After a rather tough play, Xapetuba Futebol Clube's Claudinho Duarte got a free kick in the 66th minute. In the 68th minute the ball was on its way in behind Xapetuba Futebol Clube's goalkeeper Tiaguinho da Cunha, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. Alberto Tafalla might have been able to make a better finish in the 72nd minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Tiaguinho da Cunha. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Alberto Tafalla ran back to his position shaking his head. The audience thought a goal was coming when Alberto Tafalla got free with Tiaguinho da Cunha in the 72nd minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Through an outstanding action, after 74 minutes, Tiaguinho da Cunha successfully got his hands on the ball before it slid into the goal at the right post. 75 minutes into the match, Xapetuba Futebol Clube's goal looked a bit too open when Alberto Tafalla came free, but Tiaguinho da Cunha reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Xapetuba Futebol Clube's Patrick Neiva was substituted for Jacinto Paraíba. In the 78th minute Mexico were awarded a corner. Joel Gaona went to the cornerflag to take it. A nice corner shot did that Joel Gaona got away a dangerous shot. Despite this Tiaguinho da Cunha quite easily got ahold of the ball to make the save. Tiaguinho da Cunha was out of position in the 79 minute of play, and Joel Gaona capitalized on the mistake with a soft shot into the goal. Joel Gaona really showed his touch with that goal: 1-3. Tiaguinho da Cunha made an important save on a dangerous shot by Lautaro Mancebo in the 82nd minute. Patrick Neiva took the ball and in the 83 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Dante Lacasa. Dante Lacasa dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 2-3. An unexpected shot in the 87th minute by Joel Gaona got the crowd on their feet, but to their dismay it went out on the left side. The audience was convinced that Joel Gaona's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Tiaguinho da Cunha was relentless in the 93rd minute of the game. When the match was over Mexico could go home with a victory in their luggage, having controlled the game far better than Xapetuba Futebol Clube throughout the match.