Challenge

Lokomоtiv
Spectators: 43 (Terracing: 33, 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. After some fancy dribbling in the 6th minute, Lautaro Mancebo managed to get in a good position for a shot. Mexico's supporters rose to their feet, but Lautaro Mancebo was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Krum Nikolchov breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. 10 minutes into the match, Lokomotiv Plovdiv's goal looked a bit too open when Lautaro Mancebo came free, but Krum Nikolchov reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Mexico's Dante Lacasa played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Mirolyub Dragoychev in the 11th minute of play. Krum Nikolchov took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Lautaro Mancebo, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. 23 minutes into the match, Lokomotiv Plovdiv's goal looked a bit too open when Lautaro Mancebo came free, but Krum Nikolchov reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Dante Lacasa was a little too slow when Mirolyub Dragoychev got a fine hit on the ball which went right into the goal in the 24th minute. The score was now 1-0. Lokomotiv Plovdiv's Krum Nikolchov played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Facundo Cadaval in the 30th minute of play. Mexico were awarded a corner in the 33th minute after Lokomotiv Plovdiv's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Joel Gaona took the corner. Mexico's Joel Gaona was first on the ball when the corner was shot and he dangerously headed the ball towards goal, but Krum Nikolchov in the goal jumped up to prevent it from getting in. 35 minutes into the game, Alberto Tafalla cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 1-1. Krum Nikolchov was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. Krum Nikolchov showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Joel Gaona in the 38th minute of the match. Dante Lacasa showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Sven Brask, who was totally free with the ball in the 44th minute. An unexpectedly hard shot by Lautaro Mancebo in the 47th minute of play forced Lokomotiv Plovdiv's goalkeeper Krum Nikolchov to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. After the first half the score was level. The break gave the players a chance to catch their breath, whilst the managers went over the tactics with them again.

The wind increased when Sven Brask made the kick off in the second half. Zdzislaw Obuchowicz charged in rather forcefully in the 50th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Zdzislaw Obuchowicz the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. In the 50th match minute, Lokomotiv Plovdiv was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Zdzislaw Obuchowicz to maneuver through the defense. 52 minutes into the game, Mexico's Joel Gaona nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Krum Nikolchov made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 1-2. Lautaro Mancebo sent away a hard shot on goal in the 57th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Yulian Florov kicked well hit freekick during the 62nd minute of the match. Lokomotiv Plovdiv's Facundo Nazario was substituted for Sven Brask. In the 63rd match minute, Lokomotiv Plovdiv was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Yulian Florov to maneuver through the defense. In the 66th minute Luca Zorita shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Krum Nikolchov saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 67th minute of the match Mexico got a corner. Lokomotiv Plovdiv'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. A collision led to Lokomotiv Plovdiv getting a freekick after 75 minutes play. Trifon Patrikov hit a great ball. Alberto Tafalla sent away a hard shot on goal in the 79th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. The supporters of Mexico booed when Lokomotiv Plovdiv was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 89 match minutes in a wonderful position. Mirolyub Dragoychev didn't get a good kick on the ball. In the 89th minute, Joel Gaona 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. If Facundo Nazario had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 92nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. When the final whistle sounded Mexico left the ground with the victory after a much better performance than Lokomotiv Plovdiv.