Challenge

The wings of success
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. SPARROWS's Vitko Hadzhiiliev played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Alberto Tafalla in the 4th minute of play. In the 7th minute Lionel Haaland 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. The supporters of Mexico booed when SPARROWS was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 8 match minutes in a wonderful position. Chen Yi Ran didn't get a good kick on the ball. Vitko Hadzhiiliev took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Alberto Tafalla, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Alberto Tafalla struck a weak shot in the 18th minute. Vitko Hadzhiiliev didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Mexico. 20 minutes into the match, Mexico's goalkeeper Dante Lacasa had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Chen Yi Ran. In the 21st minute SPARROWS were awarded a corner. Rayko Tzolovski went to the cornerflag to take it. Rayko Tzolovski made a great header on SPARROWS's corner, it was just that Mexico's Dante Lacasa managed to reach the ball for a save. The audience thought a goal was coming when Lionel Haaland got free with Dante Lacasa in the 26th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. In the 31st minute, Lautaro Mancebo got an opportunity to score, but he didn't get a solid hit on the ball and ended up kicking it wide of the goal. In the 32nd minute Lionel Haaland 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 36th minute Lionel Haaland 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. Vitko Hadzhiiliev took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Joel Gaona, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Mincho Strahinov hit a great freekick 45 minutes into the match. After some fancy dribbling in the 47th minute, Rayko Tzolovski managed to get in a good position for a shot. SPARROWS's supporters rose to their feet, but Rayko Tzolovski was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Dante Lacasa breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick.

Vitko Hadzhiiliev made an important save on a dangerous shot by Alberto Tafalla in the 55th minute. Alberto Tafalla's shot straight on target was not completely harmless. The ball had pretty good speed, but Vitko Hadzhiiliev firmly grabbed it by the left post. SPARROWS's André Saraiva was substituted for Mincho Strahinov. After 61 minutes SPARROWS'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 Alberto Tafalla got away a dangerous shot. Despite this Vitko Hadzhiiliev quite easily got ahold of the ball to make the save. A collision led to SPARROWS getting a freekick after 64 minutes play. André Saraiva hit a great ball. Dante Lacasa made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Chen Yi Ran in the 68th 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 Chen Yi Ran in the 71st minute of play. In the 77th minute of the match, Luca Zorita tried to roll the ball into the goal by the right post, but Vitko Hadzhiiliev saw his intentions and got control of the ball before it passed the line. Dante Lacasa took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Lionel Haaland, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Dante Lacasa showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Lionel Haaland in the 81st minute of the match. In the 85th minute Chen Yi Ran 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. A collision led to Mexico getting a freekick after 91 minutes play. Leonardo Leoz hit a great ball. The referee blew his whistle, and the match came to a close. The players exchanged shirts and headed down the tunnel. The SPARROWS fans cheered their team off the field, for while Mexico had put up a good fight, they were unable to come out of the game with any points to show for their effort.