Challenge

Estadio Azteca
Spectators: 47 (Terracing: 36, Seating: 11, VIP seats: 0) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Joel Gaona started the match with the kick off. After 6 played minutes Axenstein got a freekick which was hit by Lennart Zumbrunnen. Mexico's Dante Lacasa played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Bodo Oster in the 8th minute of play. With a little luck, Axenstein's Michele Rieger got control of the ball when Alberto Tafalla tried to sneak it across the goal line. Dante Lacasa took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Bodo Oster, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. 15 minutes into the match, Bodo Oster had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Dante Lacasa. Mexico's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Bodo Oster was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 0-1. With a little luck, Axenstein's Michele Rieger got control of the ball when Lautaro Mancebo tried to sneak it across the goal line. In the 21st minute, Ragnar Lodbrok hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Michele Rieger took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Luca Zorita, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Michele Rieger made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Joel Gaona in the 26th minute of play. Axenstein's Michele Rieger played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Lautaro Mancebo in the 28th minute of play. Lennart Zumbrunnen hit a great freekick 35 minutes into the match. After some fancy dribbling in the 36th minute, Alberto Tafalla managed to get in a good position for a shot. Mexico's supporters rose to their feet, but Alberto Tafalla was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Michele Rieger breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. The audience thought a goal was coming when Lautaro Mancebo got free with Michele Rieger in the 38th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Dante Lacasa showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Claudiu Bumba, who was totally free with the ball in the 41st minute. Luck had favoured the away team in the first, and they walked off with a 0-1 lead.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Claudiu Bumba was the one to do the kick off. Hans Kulenovic hit a great freekick 57 minutes into the match. Michele Rieger made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Joel Gaona in the 58th minute of play. Alberto Tafalla sent away a hard shot on goal in the 67th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Michele Rieger showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Lautaro Mancebo in the 70th minute of the match. In the 75th minute of the match Mexico got a corner. Axenstein'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. Alberto Tafalla made a great header on Mexico's corner, it was just that Axenstein's Michele Rieger managed to reach the ball for a save. The Mexico fans' excitement grew in the 75th match minute when Mexico's Alberto Tafalla looked to have a clear shot with the ball near the goal. The shot wasn't hard, but the ball still rolled over the goal line to make it 1-1 before the goalkeeper had a chance to intervene. An unexpectedly hard shot by Lautaro Mancebo in the 78th minute of play forced Axenstein's goalkeeper Michele Rieger to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. An unexpectedly hard shot by Leonardo Leoz in the 80th minute of play forced Axenstein's goalkeeper Michele Rieger to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. 86 minutes into the match, Mexico's goal looked a bit too open when Claudiu Bumba came free, but Dante Lacasa reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Michele Rieger showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Lautaro Mancebo, who was totally free with the ball in the 87th minute. After having played for 91 minutes, Alberto Tafalla managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Mexico's supporters crossed their fingers, but Alberto Tafalla was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Lautaro Mancebo scored 3-1 in the 92nd match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Michele Rieger, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. In the 95th minute, Ragnar Lodbrok hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Axenstein's players left the field with heads hung low after losing a match that had been finely balanced throughout.