Challenge

Estadio Azteca
Spectators: 49 (Terracing: 38, Seating: 11, VIP seats: 0) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Joel Gaona got the match started through his kick off. 4 minutes into the match, Mexico's goal looked a bit too open when Rodrigo Ferdinand came free, but Dante Lacasa reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 7th minute, Joel Gaona made a precise shot to the right of Thorsten Ternes. International Thunders's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 1-0. 9 minutes into the match, International Thunders's goal looked a bit too open when Facundo Cadaval came free, but Thorsten Ternes reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. International Thunders were furious when Gernot Kellner was red carded, 15 minutes into the game, but the referee dismissed their protests. Thorsten Ternes had in the 17thth minute some difficulties stopping Joel Gaona's well aimed penalty as it nearly passed him on his left side, but he still managed to hold the ball. Alberto Tafalla received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 18th minute. Thorsten Ternes tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. 20 minutes into the game, Loukianos Staikos cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 1-1. Dante Lacasa was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. Alberto Tafalla blasted a shot towards the goal in the 23rd minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Thorsten Ternes having to make a save. Joel Gaona received a nice pass, split the defenders, and ran untouched towards the goal. Thorsten Ternes came out and tried to block the shot, but Joel Gaona slotted it home off the left post making it 2-1 in the 26th minute. Thorsten Ternes 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 30th minute. An unexpectedly hard shot by Loukianos Staikos in the 33rd minute of play forced Mexico's goalkeeper Dante Lacasa to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. An unexpectedly hard shot by Alberto Tafalla in the 38th minute of play forced International Thunders's goalkeeper Thorsten Ternes to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. The supporters of Mexico booed when International Thunders was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 39 match minutes in a wonderful position. Lionel 柯景亦 didn't get a good kick on the ball. In the 41st minute of the match Mexico got a corner. International Thunders'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. After a rather tough play, Mexico's Leonardo Leoz got a free kick in the 42nd minute. International Thunders's Thorsten Ternes played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Alberto Tafalla in the 44th minute of play. No-one was surprised that the home team were leading 2-1 at half-time.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Loukianos Staikos was the one to do the kick off. Mexico's Dante Lacasa proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 51st minute of the match, managed to save Mexico from getting a goal against them. The supporters of International Thunders booed when Mexico was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 52 match minutes in a wonderful position. Felix Luque didn't get a good kick on the ball. Everyone was convinced a goal was close when International Thunders's Carlo Gerick in the 54th minute lifted the ball towards the upper right corner, but Dante Lacasa was perfectly placed and prevented a goal for Mexico through an amazing save. International Thunders's Thorsten Ternes played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Facundo Cadaval in the 55th minute of play. In the 57th minute, Lautaro Mancebo left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The Mexico fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 3-1. Lautaro Mancebo fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 63rd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Thorsten Ternes having to interfere. Dante Lacasa was a little too slow when 冯亦思 got a fine hit on the ball which went right into the goal in the 67th minute. The score was now 3-2. International Thunders made a substitution. Percival Costa replaced Loukianos Staikos. In the 74th minute, Joel Gaona made a precise shot to the right of Thorsten Ternes. International Thunders's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 4-2. Tibor Bäuschlein struck a weak shot in the 79th minute. Dante Lacasa didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for International Thunders. If Nichifor Borăscu had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 81st minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 83rd minute Percival Costa 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 Percival Costa in the 91st minute of play. 94 minutes into the game, Raimundas Baleika was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. International Thunders's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Mexico the free kick. Mexico's attacker deliberately struck the ball against an opponent to win a corner for his team. The corner was taken by Joel Gaona in the 96th minute. The corner led Mexico's Joel Gaona to fire away a dangerous shot which Thorsten Ternes despite some difficulties managed to get hold on the ball. In the 98th minute Mexico were awarded a corner. Joel Gaona went to the cornerflag to take it. The corner led Mexico's Joel Gaona to fire away a dangerous shot which Thorsten Ternes despite some difficulties managed to get hold on the ball. A collision led to Mexico getting a freekick after 98 minutes play. Luca Zorita hit a great ball. It was no surprise that this one had ended in a win for the home team. Mexico had played much better football throughout.