Challenge

Kleanthis Vikelidis
Spectators: 42 (Terracing: 32, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when Joel Gaona kicked off to start the match. In the 4th minute there was a penalty for Mexico. Joel Gaona stepped forward and shot the ball to the right of a diving Biagio Polo. 0-1. After a rather tough play, Aris Salonicco FC's Ferdinando Cacciatore got a free kick in the 9th minute. 11 minutes into the match, Mexico's Alberto Tafalla sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Biagio Polo narrowly saved just below the crossbar. After having played for 13 minutes, Luca Zorita managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Mexico's supporters crossed their fingers, but Luca Zorita was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. 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 19th minute. The corner led Mexico's Joel Gaona to fire away a dangerous shot which Biagio Polo despite some difficulties managed to get hold on the ball. Alberto Tafalla sent away a hard shot on goal in the 21st minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Bernardo De Sisti received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 23rd minute. Dante Lacasa tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Biagio Polo made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Lautaro Mancebo in the 25th minute of play. Aris Salonicco FC's Biagio Polo played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Joel Gaona in the 27th minute of play. An unexpectedly hard shot by Joel Gaona in the 27th minute of play forced Aris Salonicco FC's goalkeeper Biagio Polo to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. The supporters of Mexico booed when Aris Salonicco FC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 39 match minutes in a wonderful position. Marius Ichimescu didn't get a good kick on the ball. An unexpectedly hard shot by Alberto Tafalla in the 43rd minute of play forced Aris Salonicco FC's goalkeeper Biagio Polo to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Biagio Polo 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 46th minute. 47 minutes into the match, Mexico's goalkeeper Dante Lacasa had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Enrico Cera. The crowd was extremely unhappy with the home team's performance in the first half. They were losing 0-2.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Enrico Cera to strike the kick off in the second half. In the 56th minute, Lautaro Mancebo reached a very good position and smashed the ball with a huge effort into the net, just to the left of Biagio Polo. The goal made the score 0-3. Bernardo De Sisti received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 68th minute. Dante Lacasa tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Aris Salonicco FC's Giampaolo Pazzini was substituted for Adriano Michelini. After 71 played minutes Aris Salonicco FC got a freekick which was hit by Adriano Bevilacqua. Biagio Polo showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Joel Gaona in the 73rd minute of the match. In the 75th minute, Mexico's Alberto Tafalla dribbled the ball into the box and hit a shot with the outside of his foot, sending the keeper the wrong way. 0-4. Lautaro Mancebo kicked well hit freekick during the 88th minute of the match. Mexico played a much better game than Aris Salonicco FC and deserved their victory. The Aris Salonicco FC players were clearly disappointed as they left the ground.