Challenge

Allianz Arena
Spectators: 43 (Terracing: 33, Seating: 10, 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. An unexpectedly hard shot by Alberto Tafalla in the 5th minute of play forced Palestra do Interior's goalkeeper Allan Varela to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. After a rather tough play, Palestra do Interior's Boyisana Mnisi got a free kick in the 8th minute. 9 minutes into the match, Palestra do Interior's goal looked a bit too open when Lautaro Mancebo came free, but Allan Varela reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Felix Luque made in the 12th minute of the game a fairly good throw-in which was taken care of by Lautaro Mancebo. With 14 minutes on the clock, Luca Rouco commited a dangerous tackle. The referee had no choice but to show him the red card. The referee blew the whistle for a penalty in the 14th minute of the game. One of Mexico:s players had nearly got his shirt torn off by an opponent while getting free in front of Palestra do Interior:s goal. In the 26th minute Paulo Godoi 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. After 27 minutes of play, Mexico's Facundo Cadaval made it 1-1 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Allan Varela was left in no man's land by his defense there! Palestra do Interior's attentive Ernani Velasco managed to snatch the ball when Leonardo Leoz made a throw-in in the 30th minute of the game. In the 32nd minute the ball was on its way in behind Mexico's goalkeeper Dante Lacasa, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. In the 38th minute, Facundo Cadaval got an opportunity to score, but he didn't get a solid hit on the ball and ended up kicking it wide of the goal. A collision led to Mexico getting a freekick after 38 minutes play. Luca Zorita hit a great ball. If Paulo Godoi had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 42nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. In the 42nd minute Paulo Godoi 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. An unexpectedly hard shot by Lautaro Mancebo in the 43rd minute of play forced Palestra do Interior's goalkeeper Allan Varela to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. The fans had the chance to grab some refreshments as the whistle went for half-time. The score stood at 1-1 after a close first half.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Paulo Godoi was the one to do the kick off. Mexico's Dante Lacasa played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Paulo Godoi in the 51st minute of play. 53 minutes into the game, one of Mexico:s players got tackled near the goal, and the referee blew for a penalty. Mexico:s Dante Lacasa showed great skill when he stopped Paulo Godoi:s penalty. Paulo Godoi did an outstanding performance 55 minutes into the match, when he by himself got past the opposing team's defense and with a quick scored 2-1 to the right of an irritated Dante Lacasa in the goal. After a defensive mix-up in Mexico's zone, Paulo Godoi stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Dante Lacasa came out of the goal and Paulo Godoi tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Palestra do Interior's Niclas Danielsson was substituted for Hudson Sergipano. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Paulo Godoi in the 67th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Dante Lacasa prevented the ball from getting in the gole. After a rather tough play, Mexico's Leonardo Leoz got a free kick in the 70th minute. A collision led to Mexico getting a freekick after 71 minutes play. Leonardo Leoz hit a great ball. Palestra do Interior's Vitório Lago got a good chance for a goal in the 74th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. In the 75th minute, Eugênio Alagoano hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. The audience thought a goal was coming when Alberto Tafalla got free with Allan Varela in the 79th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Alberto Tafalla's shot when he came free in front of the goal in the 84thth minute, Allan Varela skillfully showed off with a save to what seemed to be an obvious goal. In the 92nd minute the ball was on its way in behind Palestra do Interior's goalkeeper Allan Varela, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. The referee blew his whistle, and the match came to a close. The players exchanged shirts and headed down the tunnel. The Palestra do Interior fans cheered their team off the field, for while Mexico had put up a good fight, they were unable to come out of the game with any points to show for their effort.