Challenge

El Matadero
Spectators: 45 (Terracing: 35, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) Joel Gaona scored 0-1 in the 2nd match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Nando Toscano, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. With an all-out effort, Escuadrón Mercenario's Dante Lacasa threw himself towards the right post 5 minutes into the match and grabbed hold of the ball from Ramiro Messias, which otherwise would have been placed in the net. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Ramiro Messias in the 5th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Dante Lacasa prevented the ball from getting in the gole. In the 7th minute of the match Escuadrón Mercenario got a corner. Mexico's goalie ran out to the linesman to protest the call, but the linesman resolutely pointed his flag at the cornerflag. Gartxot Abeita ran over to the corner to take the kick. Nando Toscano made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Lautaro Mancebo in the 8th minute of play. 9 minutes had been played when some careless play by Escuadrón Mercenario'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. Nando Toscano made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Alberto Tafalla in the 12th minute of play. After having played for 14 minutes, Alberto Tafalla managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Mexico's supporters crossed their fingers, but Alberto Tafalla was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Estevon Abancens could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 16th minute of the match, but Dante Lacasa made a huge save. A collision led to Escuadrón Mercenario getting a freekick after 16 minutes play. Ramiro Messias hit a great ball. Dante Lacasa made a fantastic save in the 18th minute, when Enrique Abeijon sent off a good shot on target. Nando Toscano made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Lautaro Mancebo in the 22nd minute of play. Mexico's Dante Lacasa played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Ramiro Messias in the 23rd minute of play. In the 28th minute, Lautaro Mancebo made a precise shot to the right of Nando Toscano. Escuadrón Mercenario's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 0-2. Mexico's Dante Lacasa played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Ramiro Messias in the 38th minute of play. An unexpectedly hard shot by Luca Zorita in the 41st minute of play forced Escuadrón Mercenario's goalkeeper Nando Toscano to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. After a defensive mix-up in Escuadrón Mercenario's zone, Alberto Tafalla stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Nando Toscano came out of the goal and Alberto Tafalla tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. In the 47th minute, Alberto Tafalla 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: 0-3. The crowd was extremely unhappy with the home team's performance in the first half. They were losing 0-3.

The wind increased when Joel Gaona made the kick off in the second half. An unexpected shot in the 52nd minute by Joel Gaona got the crowd on their feet, but to their dismay it went out on the left side. 60 minutes into the match, Mexico's goal looked a bit too open when Ramiro Messias came free, but Dante Lacasa reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Nando Toscano made an important save on a dangerous shot by Lautaro Mancebo in the 61st minute. The supporters of Mexico booed when Escuadrón Mercenario was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 64 match minutes in a wonderful position. Filipo Abeita didn't get a good kick on the ball. Nando Toscano showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Joel Gaona in the 67th 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 Enrique Abeijon in the 75th minute of play. A nice corner shot did that Gartxot Abeita got away a dangerous shot. Despite this Dante Lacasa quite easily got ahold of the ball to make the save. 78 minutes into the game, Ramiro Messias cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 1-3. Dante Lacasa was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. Escuadrón Mercenario's Nando Toscano played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Joel Gaona in the 82nd minute of play. 86 minutes into the match, Mexico's Alberto Tafalla sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Nando Toscano narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Dante Lacasa made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Ramiro Messias in the 88th minute of play. Lautaro Mancebo sent away a hard shot on goal in the 89th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Dante Lacasa took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Estevon Abancens, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. An unexpectedly hard shot by Alberto Tafalla in the 97th minute of play forced Escuadrón Mercenario's goalkeeper Nando Toscano to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. When the final whistle sounded Mexico left the ground with the victory after a much better performance than Escuadrón Mercenario.