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 some fancy dribbling in the 6th minute, Joel Gaona managed to get in a good position for a shot. Mexico's supporters rose to their feet, but Joel Gaona was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Danail Mitzakov breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. An unexpectedly hard shot by Zeng Jing Yue in the 14th minute of play forced Mexico's goalkeeper Dante Lacasa to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Dante Lacasa showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Zeng Jing Yue, who was totally free with the ball in the 15th minute. The supporters of Maritza booed when Mexico was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 16 match minutes in a wonderful position. Alberto Tafalla didn't get a good kick on the ball. 22 minutes into the match, Maritza's goal looked a bit too open when Alberto Tafalla came free, but Danail Mitzakov reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 26th minute, Zoltán Hubina made a precise shot to the right of Dante Lacasa. Mexico's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 0-1. Danail Mitzakov made an important save on a dangerous shot by Facundo Cadaval in the 29th minute. 31 minutes into the match, Mexico's goal looked a bit too open when Zoltán Hubina came free, but Dante Lacasa reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Zoltán Hubina blasted a shot towards the goal in the 32nd minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Dante Lacasa having to make a save. Dante Lacasa made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Nencho Markovski in the 34th minute of play. After 39 played minutes Mexico got a freekick which was hit by Luca Rouco. If Alberto Tafalla had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 43rd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Felix Luque hit a great freekick 45 minutes into the match. Dante Lacasa showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Zeng Jing Yue in the 47th minute of the match.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Zeng Jing Yue to make the kick off. 51 minutes into the match, Maritza's goal looked a bit too open when Facundo Cadaval came free, but Danail Mitzakov reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 52nd minute Joel Gaona shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Danail Mitzakov saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Danail Mitzakov showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Facundo Cadaval in the 54th minute of the match. Dante Lacasa made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Zeng Jing Yue in the 55th minute of play. 56 minutes into the match, Maritza's goal looked a bit too open when Luca Zorita came free, but Danail Mitzakov reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 66thth minute of the game Lautaro Mancebo who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Maritza's Danail Mitzakov was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. Mexico were furious when Macos Graciani was red carded, 67 minutes into the game, but the referee dismissed their protests. In the 69th minute there was a penalty for Maritza. Zeng Jing Yue stepped forward and shot the ball to the right of a diving Dante Lacasa. 0-2. Mexico's Lautaro Mancebo got a good chance for a goal in the 74th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Zoltán Hubina could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 77th minute of the match, but Dante Lacasa made a huge save. In the 77th match minute, Maritza was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Nencho Markovski to maneuver through the defense. If Luca Zorita had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 82nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After 85 played minutes Mexico got a freekick which was hit by Joel Gaona. The long shot by Pavlin Dzhegalski in the 86th minute really tested Dante Lacasa's skills. The ball was on its way into the goal to the left of him when he managed to stretch himself and save the shot and avoid a goal. Dante Lacasa made an important save on a dangerous shot by Zoltán Hubina in the 87th minute. Mexico's Dante Lacasa proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 87th minute of the match, managed to save Mexico from getting a goal against them. With a little luck, Mexico's Dante Lacasa got control of the ball when Nencho Markovski tried to sneak it across the goal line. Danail Mitzakov made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Luca Zorita in the 93rd minute of play. In the 95th minute, Marin Nikolkov ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Dante Lacasa was frozen by the shot and now it was 0-3. The Maritza players were relieved to hear the final whistle blow to end the match. The away crowd was happy to see their team win after a very tight game.