Challenge

Estadio Azteca
Spectators: 49 (Terracing: 38, Seating: 11, VIP seats: 0) Manchester United FC's Valdemar Kuoppala 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. 3 minutes into the game, Mexico's Joel Gaona nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Edwin van der Sar made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 1-0. 6 minutes into the match, Mexico's goal looked a bit too open when Taisto Pentsinen came free, but Dante Lacasa reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. When the match had gone on for 9 minutes, Luca Zorita took a quick shot and it went in 2-0 without a chance for Edwin van der Sar to make any attempt to save it. An unexpectedly hard shot by Eero Uusipaavalniemi in the 12th minute of play forced Mexico's goalkeeper Dante Lacasa to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 17th minute Alberto Tafalla shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Edwin van der Sar saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Dante Lacasa showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Davide Beckham in the 18th minute of the match. Dante Lacasa took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Taisto Pentsinen, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 24th minute Taisto Pentsinen 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. Mexico's Dante Lacasa played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Eero Uusipaavalniemi in the 26th minute of play. Dante Lacasa came out of the goal in the 28th minute to try and stop a shot by Manchester United FC's Taisto Pentsinen. But to his dismay, Taisto Pentsinen quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 2-1. After a rather tough play, Mexico's Facundo Cadaval got a free kick in the 32nd minute. Dante Lacasa showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Taisto Pentsinen, who was totally free with the ball in the 38th minute. An unexpectedly hard shot by Eero Uusipaavalniemi in the 41st minute of play forced Mexico's goalkeeper Dante Lacasa to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 45thth minute of the game Joel Gaona who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Manchester United FC's Edwin van der Sar was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. In the 46th minute Joel Gaona shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Edwin van der Sar saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. After some careless play in the Manchester United FC defense, Joel Gaona kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Edwin van der Sar. The Manchester United FC fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Edwin van der Sar should have stopped the shot. Af the end of the first half the score was 3-1. The first half had gone as expected for the home team.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Joel Gaona to make the kick off. Edwin van der Sar came out of the goal in the 53rd minute to try and stop a shot by Mexico's Lautaro Mancebo. But to his dismay, Lautaro Mancebo quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 4-1. In the 55th minute Taisto Pentsinen 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. Taisto Pentsinen's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Dante Lacasa read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 58th minute of play. Edwin van der Sar showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Lautaro Mancebo in the 59th minute of the match. 61 minutes into the match, Manchester United FC's goal looked a bit too open when Luca Zorita came free, but Edwin van der Sar reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. A collision led to Mexico getting a freekick after 70 minutes play. Felix Luque hit a great ball. Edwin van der Sar took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Joel Gaona, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Dante Lacasa took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Valdemar Kuoppala, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Dante Lacasa made an important save on a dangerous shot by Eero Uusipaavalniemi in the 82nd minute. Edwin van der Sar made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Lautaro Mancebo in the 86th minute of play. After a defensive mix-up in Manchester United FC's zone, Alberto Tafalla stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Edwin van der Sar came out of the goal and Alberto Tafalla tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. If Alberto Tafalla had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 93rd minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. Joel Gaona fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 95th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Edwin van der Sar having to interfere. Mexico walked away with a well-earned victory that was much celebrated by the crowd.