Challenge

Vallentuna Arena
Spectators: 41 (Terracing: 32, Seating: 9, 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. After 2 played minutes Vallentuna Kickers got a freekick which was hit by Börge Hybbert. Dante Lacasa showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Torbjörn Tingberg in the 14th minute of the match. 18 minutes into the match, Mexico's goal looked a bit too open when Torbjörn Tingberg came free, but Dante Lacasa reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 19thth minute of the game Lautaro Mancebo who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Vallentuna Kickers's Li Han was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. Mexico were awarded a corner in the 21th minute after Vallentuna Kickers's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Joel Gaona took the corner. A nice corner shot did that Luca Zorita got away a dangerous shot. Despite this Li Han quite easily got ahold of the ball to make the save. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Magnus Dalberg during the 23rd minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. The supporters of Mexico booed when Vallentuna Kickers was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 23 match minutes in a wonderful position. Magnus Dalberg didn't get a good kick on the ball. After a defensive mix-up in Vallentuna Kickers's zone, Lautaro Mancebo stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Li Han came out of the goal and Lautaro Mancebo tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Dante Lacasa showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Gunnar Nordlander in the 29th minute of the match. Joel Gaona received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 31st minute. Li Han tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Alberto Tafalla sent away a hard shot on goal in the 32nd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. 38 minutes into the game, Ronny Dahlqvist was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Vallentuna Kickers's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Mexico the free kick. After 38 played minutes Vallentuna Kickers got a freekick which was hit by Ronny Dahlqvist. An unexpectedly hard shot by Lautaro Mancebo in the 40th minute of play forced Vallentuna Kickers's goalkeeper Li Han to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. 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 41st minute. It was a well-played corner which Luca Zorita managed to volley towards the net. Unfortunately, he didn't get a great hit on the ball and it went out into the grandstand. After the first half the score was level. The break gave the players a chance to catch their breath, whilst the managers went over the tactics with them again.

The wind increased when Torbjörn Tingberg made the kick off in the second half. Dante Lacasa made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Torbjörn Tingberg in the 52nd minute of play. Lautaro Mancebo recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 54th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. In the 55th minute of the match, Joel Gaona tried to roll the ball into the goal by the right post, but Li Han saw his intentions and got control of the ball before it passed the line. Li Han took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Joel Gaona, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. After taking down the ball on Mexico's corner Lautaro Mancebo fired away a hard shot, but the defenders efficiently covered the most dangerous angles and Li Han quite easily take care of the ball. Joel Gaona received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 61st minute. Li Han tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Dante Lacasa made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Torbjörn Tingberg in the 63rd minute of play. If Lautaro Mancebo had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 67th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Li Han made an important save on a dangerous shot by Lautaro Mancebo in the 69th minute. Joel Gaona could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 73rd minute of the match, but Li Han made a huge save. Through an outstanding action, after 78 minutes, Li Han successfully got his hands on the ball before it slid into the goal at the right post. In the 86th minute, Torbjörn Tingberg made a precise shot to the right of Dante Lacasa. Mexico's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 1-1. In the 88th minute, Lautaro Mancebo reached a very good position and smashed the ball with a huge effort into the net, just to the left of Li Han. The goal made the score 1-2. When the match was over Mexico could go home with a victory in their luggage, having controlled the game far better than Vallentuna Kickers throughout the match.