Challenge

La Bombonera
Spectators: 41 (Terracing: 32, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when Jose-Manuel Alabern kicked off to start the match. Lautaro Mancebo sent away a hard shot on goal in the 8th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. In the 15th minute Jose-Manuel Alabern shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Dante Lacasa saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 17th minute of the game Luca Rouco made a throw-in which Joel Gaona played forward. After some careless play in the Gowland defense, Lautaro Mancebo kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Ezequiel Candela. The Gowland fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Ezequiel Candela should have stopped the shot. Jose-Manuel Alabern was really disappointed when he shot the ball just outside the right post instead of scoring a goal in the 21st minute. Gowland's manager could be seen on the sidelines shaking his head and muttering to himself as his team had just wasted another chance. Ezequiel Candela took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Joel Gaona, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 29th minute of the game Macos Graciani made a throw-in which Joel Gaona played forward. Jose-Manuel Alabern might have been able to make a better finish in the 42nd minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Dante Lacasa. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Jose-Manuel Alabern ran back to his position shaking his head. Mexico's Dante Lacasa played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Jose-Manuel Alabern in the 42nd minute of play. The crowd was extremely unhappy with the home team's performance in the first half. They were losing 0-1.

The wind increased when Joel Gaona made the kick off in the second half. With a little luck, Gowland's Ezequiel Candela got control of the ball when Alberto Tafalla tried to sneak it across the goal line. Ezequiel Candela 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 61st minute. Gowland's Alfredo Fresnos was substituted for Santi Goyanes. In the 68th match minute, Mexico was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Felix Luque to maneuver through the defense. In the 69th minute Piotr Charamut shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Dante Lacasa saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. 76 minutes into the match, Gowland's goal looked a bit too open when Luca Zorita came free, but Ezequiel Candela reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. 81 minutes into the match, Mexico's Luca Zorita sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Ezequiel Candela narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Joel Gaona fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 86th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Ezequiel Candela having to interfere. In the 91st minute the ball was on its way in behind Gowland's goalkeeper Ezequiel Candela, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. After 92 minutes Gowland'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. A nice corner shot did that Joel Gaona got away a dangerous shot. Despite this Ezequiel Candela quite easily got ahold of the ball to make the save. After 93 played minutes Gowland got a freekick which was hit by Huly Estruch. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Alfredo Fresnos in the 95th 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. Mexico played a much better game than Gowland and deserved their victory. The Gowland players were clearly disappointed as they left the ground.