Challenge

Astrakhan
Spectators: 43 (Terracing: 33, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) FC 2 October's Roman Uvarov 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 made an important save on a dangerous shot by Rustam Blinov in the 6th minute. If Joel Gaona had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 7th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. Lautaro Mancebo received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 14th minute. Egor Urazov tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Egor Urazov made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Joel Gaona in the 18th minute of play. Egor Urazov showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Luca Zorita, who was totally free with the ball in the 26th minute. After 30 minutes FC 2 October'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. Mexico's Joel Gaona was first on the ball when the corner was shot and he dangerously headed the ball towards goal, but Egor Urazov in the goal jumped up to prevent it from getting in. FC 2 October's Egor Urazov played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Luca Zorita in the 32nd minute of play. If Lautaro Mancebo had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 34th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After some fancy dribbling in the 42nd minute, Joel Gaona managed to get in a good position for a shot. Mexico's supporters rose to their feet, but Joel Gaona was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Egor Urazov breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Roman Uvarov sent away a hard shot on goal in the 44th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. FC 2 October's Egor Urazov played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Luca Zorita in the 46th minute of play.

If Alberto Tafalla had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 52nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Mexico's Alberto Tafalla got a good chance for a goal in the 66th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Egor Urazov came out of the goal in the 72nd 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 1-1. 75 minutes into the game, Joel Gaona cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 1-2. Egor Urazov was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. When Lautaro Mancebo came up free with the goalie in the 78th minute, the Mexico fans jumped to their feet. But the shot missed the goal by a fraction of an inch, and the fans sat back down disappointed that Lautaro Mancebo couldn't finish the play. In the 82nd minute Joel Gaona shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Egor Urazov saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. 83 minutes into the match, FC 2 October's goalkeeper Egor Urazov had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Lautaro Mancebo. 83 minutes into the game, Lautaro Mancebo recieved a splendid long ball, split the defenders, and gently placed the ball to the left of Egor Urazov. Lautaro Mancebo showed that you don't have to tear a hole in the net to score, 1-3. Alberto Tafalla struck a weak shot in the 96th minute. Egor Urazov didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Mexico. Mexico played a much better game than FC 2 October and deserved their victory. The FC 2 October players were clearly disappointed as they left the ground.