Challenge

JET-Arena
Spectators: 42 (Terracing: 32, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Ivan Haglund started the match with the kick off. 4 minutes into the match, Mexico's goalkeeper Dante Lacasa had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Ivan Haglund. Nikifor Vekov made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Joel Gaona in the 7th minute of play. 10 minutes into the match, Mexico's goal looked a bit too open when Ivan Haglund came free, but Dante Lacasa reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Nikifor Vekov 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 11th minute. The audience thought a goal was coming when Julio Quirze got free with Dante Lacasa in the 19th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. In the 20th minute Luca Zorita shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Nikifor Vekov saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Dante Lacasa made an important save on a dangerous shot by Zhivko Shpatov in the 25th minute. A collision led to JET-M getting a freekick after 26 minutes play. Julio Quirze hit a great ball. An unexpectedly hard shot by Lautaro Mancebo in the 29th minute of play forced JET-M's goalkeeper Nikifor Vekov to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. 46 minutes had been played when some careless play by JET-M's defense caused the ball to cross the line for a corner. Joel Gaona was slow to take the kick. During this time Mexico's players had a chance to rest. Mexico's Joel Gaona was first on the ball when the corner was shot and he dangerously headed the ball towards goal, but Nikifor Vekov in the goal jumped up to prevent it from getting in. After a very even first half the match was still tied. The players went to their respective dressing rooms to discuss the tactics for the second half.

Mexico were awarded a corner in the 53th minute after JET-M's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Joel Gaona took the corner. Mexico's Lautaro Mancebo got a good chance for a goal in the 54th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. JET-M made a substitution. Ren Xi Liang replaced Zhivko Shpatov. After some fancy dribbling in the 66th minute, Ivan Haglund managed to get in a good position for a shot. JET-M's supporters rose to their feet, but Ivan Haglund 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. An unexpectedly hard shot by Luca Zorita in the 70th minute of play forced JET-M's goalkeeper Nikifor Vekov to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. JET-M's Nikifor Vekov played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Luca Zorita in the 70th minute of play. Nikifor Vekov took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Alberto Tafalla, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. The supporters of JET-M booed when Mexico was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 74 match minutes in a wonderful position. Facundo Cadaval didn't get a good kick on the ball. In the 76th minute Mirolyub Radin 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 78th of the match, Joel Gaona tried to place the ball in the upper right corner, but Nikifor Vekov got in the way and made a wonderful save. If Alberto Tafalla had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 83rd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Nikifor Vekov made an important save on a dangerous shot by Lautaro Mancebo in the 85th minute. Dante Lacasa showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Julio Quirze, who was totally free with the ball in the 86th minute. In the 88th minute of the match JET-M got a corner. Mexico's goalie ran out to the linesman to protest the call, but the linesman resolutely pointed his flag at the cornerflag. Bozhko Staevski ran over to the corner to take the kick. The supporters of Mexico booed when JET-M was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 89 match minutes in a wonderful position. Naycho Palyov didn't get a good kick on the ball. After 89 played minutes, Mexico's Joel Gaona shot from a long distance, and at first it looked like the ball was going into the goal, but the goalkeeper Nikifor Vekov came through and got his fingers on the ball before it flew over the goal line. He then quickly gripped the ball tighter before the forwards in Mexico reached it. Ren Xi Liang hit a great freekick 91 minutes into the match. With an all-out effort, Mexico's Nikifor Vekov threw himself towards the right post 92 minutes into the match and grabbed hold of the ball from Joel Gaona, which otherwise would have been placed in the net. Mexico were furious when Felix Luque was red carded, 94 minutes into the game, but the referee dismissed their protests. After 94 minutes of play, the referee blew the whistle. It was a penalty for Mexico! 97 minutes into the game, Quinton Ladra was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. JET-M's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Mexico the free kick.