Challenge

Hrazdan
Spectators: 40 (Terracing: 31, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Jon Waller got the match started through his kick off. Paulo Skochev came free with the goalkeeper in the 3rd minute of the match, and shot straight on target. The shot was a little too simple and Dante Lacasa could save by the left post. After having played for 11 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. With a little luck, Mexico's Dante Lacasa got control of the ball when Jon Waller tried to sneak it across the goal line. Alberto Tafalla sent away a hard shot on goal in the 18th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. In the 20th minute, Elias Ståhlberg left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The AZAT MARD FC fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 1-0. Mexico's Joel Gaona got a good chance for a goal in the 25th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. With an all-out effort, AZAT MARD FC's Dante Lacasa threw himself towards the right post 27 minutes into the match and grabbed hold of the ball from Martin Olsman, which otherwise would have been placed in the net. In the 32nd minute, Joel Gaona ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Pär Löfdahl was frozen by the shot and now it was 1-1. After 35 played minutes AZAT MARD FC's Jon Waller stole the ball from his opponents and shot the ball towards the upper left corner, but Dante Lacasa stretched himself as far as he could, and stopped the ball from passing the line. robbing Mexico of the goal. AZAT MARD FC were awarded a corner in the 36th minute after Mexico's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Jon Waller took the corner. Pär Löfdahl showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Joel Gaona, who was totally free with the ball in the 40th minute. Mexico's defense didn't have a chance, in the 46th minute, when Jon Waller scored to the left of an out of position Dante Lacasa, making the score, 2-1. No-one was surprised that the home team were leading 2-1 at half-time.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Joel Gaona to make the kick off. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Lautaro Mancebo in the 53rd minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Pär Löfdahl prevented the ball from getting in the gole. When Mexico's Lautaro Mancebo in the 53rd minute got a chance for a shot 53rd didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye AZAT MARD FC's goalie prevented a goal. In the 55th minute Martin Olsman 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. Joel Gaona fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 58th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Pär Löfdahl having to interfere. The crowd rose to their feet as Lautaro Mancebo kicked a wonderful shot that went in to the left of a diving Pär Löfdahl. That made the score 2-2 in the 60 minute of play. AZAT MARD FC's Pär Löfdahl played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Alberto Tafalla in the 64th minute of play. The audience thought a goal was coming when Lautaro Mancebo got free with Pär Löfdahl in the 66th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. AZAT MARD FC's Sebastian Åkerman was substituted for Jon Waller. Mexico were awarded a corner in the 70th minute after AZAT MARD FC's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Joel Gaona took the corner. A nice corner shot did that Lautaro Mancebo got away a dangerous shot. Despite this Pär Löfdahl quite easily got ahold of the ball to make the save. In the 71st minute, Mexico's Lautaro Mancebo ran free of his marker and smoothly shot the ball into the goal behind Pär Löfdahl. Pär Löfdahl yelled at his defense, as they had left him out to dry. 2-3. Dante Lacasa made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Martin Olsman in the 76th minute of play. In the 78th minute Sebastian Åkerman 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. Pär Löfdahl made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Alberto Tafalla in the 84th minute of play. 88 minutes into the match, Mexico's Alberto Tafalla sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Pär Löfdahl narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Joel Gaona's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Pär Löfdahl read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 90th 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 Sebastian Åkerman in the 91st minute of play. In the 95th minute, Marcus Lagerberg 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. Mexico's supporters were very happy and cheered loudly because their team had won after a very close match.