Challenge

Estadio Azteca
Spectators: 45 (Terracing: 35, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) FC Zenit Saint Petersburg's Håkan Kjellman 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. 5 minutes into the match, Mexico's goal looked a bit too open when Håkan Kjellman came free, but Dante Lacasa reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 6th minute Joel Gaona shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Zafer Hürsel saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 7th minute, Mexico's Lautaro Mancebo dribbled the ball into the box and hit a shot with the outside of his foot, sending the keeper the wrong way. 1-0. Through an outstanding action, after 10 minutes, Zafer Hürsel successfully got his hands on the ball before it slid into the goal at the right post. In the 13th minute Peter Snell 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. Alberto Tafalla could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 19th minute of the match, but Zafer Hürsel made a huge save. 26 minutes into the match, FC Zenit Saint Petersburg's goal looked a bit too open when Alberto Tafalla came free, but Zafer Hürsel reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After a rather tough play, Mexico's Facundo Cadaval got a free kick in the 26th minute. Mexico's Dante Lacasa played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Peter Snell in the 28th minute of play. 30 minutes into the game, Joel Gaona cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 3-1. Zafer Hürsel was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. Dante Lacasa showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Emanuel Emander in the 32nd minute of the match. Thanks to some nice moves Lautaro Mancebo could shoot a difficult shot in the 34th minute, which Zafer Hürsel however easily saved by the left post. 35 minutes had been played when some careless play by FC Zenit Saint Petersburg's defense caused the ball to cross the line for a corner. Joel Gaona was slow to take the kick. During this time Mexico's players had a chance to rest. An unexpectedly hard shot by Håkan Kjellman in the 38th minute of play forced Mexico's goalkeeper Dante Lacasa to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 46th minute, Mexico's Alberto Tafalla dribbled the ball into the box and hit a shot with the outside of his foot, sending the keeper the wrong way. 4-1.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Joel Gaona made a kick off. Zafer Hürsel took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Joel Gaona, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Dante Lacasa made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Emanuel Emander in the 55th minute of play. The audience thought a goal was coming when Peter Snell got free with Dante Lacasa in the 58th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. FC Zenit Saint Petersburg's Gabriel Söderström was substituted for Jörgen Ekeroth. After 69 minutes FC Zenit Saint Petersburg'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. 71 minutes into the game, Herbert Björnberg was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. FC Zenit Saint Petersburg's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Mexico the free kick. In the 72nd minute, Herbert Björnberg hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. FC Zenit Saint Petersburg's Valentin Ivarsson was substituted for Emanuel Emander. Johannes Botvidsson hit a great freekick 75 minutes into the match. Alberto Tafalla received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 76th minute. Zafer Hürsel tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Joel Gaona received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 79th minute. Zafer Hürsel tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. 91 minutes into the game, Peter Snell cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 4-2. Dante Lacasa was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. Mexico walked away with a well-earned victory that was much celebrated by the crowd.