Challenge

Estadio Azteca
Spectators: 44 (Terracing: 34, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) Mexico's Joel Gaona 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. Lautaro Mancebo sent away a hard shot on goal in the 4th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Dante Lacasa made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Alexei Karamazov in the 8th minute of play. The corner led Hallstahammar IK's Karl Nordström to fire away a dangerous shot which Dante Lacasa despite some difficulties managed to get hold on the ball. An unexpectedly hard shot by Alexei Karamazov in the 13th minute of play forced Mexico's goalkeeper Dante Lacasa to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Lautaro Mancebo came free with the goalkeeper in the 14th minute of the match, and shot straight on target. The shot was a little too simple and Joseph Svartengren could save by the left post. Hallstahammar IK's Joseph Svartengren played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Joel Gaona in the 16th minute of play. Dante Lacasa didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Alexei Karamazov went, in the 20th minute, to the upper right corner, 0-1 was the resulting score. Alexei Karamazov recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 27th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. 28 minutes into the match, Joel Gaona had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Joseph Svartengren. Hallstahammar IK's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Joel Gaona was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 1-1. Hallstahammar IK's Joseph Svartengren proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 32nd minute of the match, managed to save Hallstahammar IK from getting a goal against them. Adolf Papoušek kicked well hit freekick during the 37th minute of the match. 40 minutes into the match, Mexico's goal looked a bit too open when Luciano Sidoro came free, but Dante Lacasa reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. The score stood at 1-1 when the half time whistle went. Both sets of players seemed reasonably pleased with how the match was going.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Alexei Karamazov to strike the kick off in the second half. Hallstahammar IK's Joseph Svartengren played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Joel Gaona in the 52nd minute of play. Lautaro Mancebo fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 53rd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Joseph Svartengren having to interfere. In the 55th match minute, Mexico was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Alberto Tafalla to maneuver through the defense. Luciano Sidoro received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 57th minute. Dante Lacasa tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. In the 69th 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: 2-1. After a rather tough play, Hallstahammar IK's Erik Browall got a free kick in the 74th minute. Joseph Svartengren took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Alberto Tafalla, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Joseph Svartengren 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 76th minute. After a rather tough play, Mexico's Luca Zorita got a free kick in the 80th minute. Erik Browall hit a great freekick 82 minutes into the match. After 83 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 Joseph Svartengren 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. In the 85th minute, Alexei Karamazov 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 2-2. After 90 minutes Hallstahammar IK's defender was forced to head the ball over the line for a corner. It was Joel Gaona who took care of the corner kick. The corner ended in Luca Rouco almost managing to get the ball behind the net, but Hallstahammar IK's Joseph Svartengren did a great save. If Ştefan Deșliu had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 91st minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After having played for 93 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. The final whistle blew with the score still tied, and both teams left the pitch thinking about the missed chances that could have given their team the win.