Challenge

Babuf Stadium
Spectators: 44 (Terracing: 34, Seating: 10, 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. The supporters of Panionios MK booed when Mexico was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 5 match minutes in a wonderful position. Luca Zorita didn't get a good kick on the ball. Dante Lacasa took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Allan Corrigan, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. After a defensive mix-up in Panionios MK's zone, Joel Gaona stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Erik Vale came out of the goal and Joel Gaona tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Kyriakos Akrivoulis hit a great freekick 10 minutes into the match. In the 11th minute, Themos Leontiadis hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Joel Gaona fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 12th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Erik Vale having to interfere. After 14 played minutes Panionios MK got a freekick which was hit by Themos Leontiadis. Dante Lacasa made a fantastic save in the 17th minute, when Allan Corrigan sent off a good shot on target. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Themos Leontiadis in the 18th 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 18thth minute of the game Themos Leontiadis who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Mexico's Dante Lacasa was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. In the 21st minute, Panionios MK's Themos Leontiadis ran free of his marker and smoothly shot the ball into the goal behind Dante Lacasa. Dante Lacasa yelled at his defense, as they had left him out to dry. 1-0. 26 minutes into the match, Panionios MK's goal looked a bit too open when Luca Zorita came free, but Erik Vale reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Dante Lacasa made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Themos Leontiadis in the 29th minute of play. Themos Leontiadis had several of the Mexico's defenders around him in the penalty area when he, after 35 minutes of play, received a pass and succeeded in some way to shoot a shot which went straight ahead into goal. This resulted in a 2-0 score and a disappointed Dante Lacasa as he didn't even see the shot coming. A collision led to Panionios MK getting a freekick after 41 minutes play. Fanis Salepis hit a great ball. In the 44thth minute of the game Joel Gaona who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Panionios MK's Erik Vale was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. 47 minutes into the match, Alberto Tafalla had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Erik Vale. Panionios MK's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Alberto Tafalla was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 2-1. Af the end of the first half the score was 2-1. The first half had gone as expected for the home team.

The wind increased when Themos Leontiadis made the kick off in the second half. With an all-out effort, Mexico's Erik Vale threw himself towards the right post 52 minutes into the match and grabbed hold of the ball from Joel Gaona, which otherwise would have been placed in the net. In the 53rd minute of the match Mexico got a corner. Panionios MK's goalie ran out to the linesman to protest the call, but the linesman resolutely pointed his flag at the cornerflag. Joel Gaona ran over to the corner to take the kick. It was a well-played corner which Luca Zorita managed to volley towards the net. Unfortunately, he didn't get a great hit on the ball and it went out into the grandstand. In the 57th minute of the game Macos Graciani made a throw-in which Alberto Tafalla played forward. 58 minutes had been played when some careless play by Panionios MK'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. The corner led Mexico's Luca Zorita to a score. 2-2 in the 59th minute. Erik Vale took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Alberto Tafalla, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. When Mexico's Luca Zorita in the 77th minute got a chance for a shot 77th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Panionios MK's goalie prevented a goal. After a rather tough play, Mexico's Facundo Cadaval got a free kick in the 78th minute. After a rather tough play, Mexico's Lautaro Mancebo got a free kick in the 80th minute. Erik Vale made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Joel Gaona in the 83rd minute of play. Dante Lacasa showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Allan Corrigan, who was totally free with the ball in the 85th minute. 87 minutes into the match, Panionios MK's goalkeeper Erik Vale had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Lautaro Mancebo. Alberto Tafalla struck a weak shot in the 88th minute. Erik Vale didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Mexico. In the 90th minute, Allan Corrigan hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. With his leg Erik Vale managed to avoid a goal in the 92ndth minute, when Mexico's Alberto Tafalla fired away a shot with a lot of spin towards his right hand side. 94 minutes into the match, Mexico's Joel Gaona sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Erik Vale narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Joel Gaona received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 96th minute. Erik Vale tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere.