Challenge

Estadio Azteca
Spectators: 44 (Terracing: 34, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) The mood of the audience was pleasant when Niki Lauda made the kick off which started today's match. Luca Zorita's late challenge caught a RIVER's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Luca Zorita helped the player get up and apologised. After 6 played minutes Mexico got a freekick which was hit by Luca Zorita. Marcial Lordi was a little too slow when Alberto Tafalla got a fine hit on the ball which went right into the goal in the 8th minute. The score was now 1-0. Marcial Lordi was a little too slow when Lautaro Mancebo got a fine hit on the ball which went right into the goal in the 11th minute. The score was now 2-0. 16 minutes into the match, Mexico's goal looked a bit too open when Wu Li Zhi came free, but Dante Lacasa reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. 17 minutes into the match, RIVER's goalkeeper Marcial Lordi had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Alberto Tafalla. Marcial Lordi made a fantastic save in the 19th minute, when Alberto Tafalla sent off a good shot on target. Alberto Tafalla could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 20th minute of the match, but Marcial Lordi made a huge save. RIVER's Marcial Lordi played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Luca Zorita in the 22nd minute of play. After a rather tough play, Mexico's Lorenzo Cazalla got a free kick in the 26th minute. 28 minutes into the match, RIVER's goalkeeper Marcial Lordi had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Lautaro Mancebo. In the 29th minute, Marcelino Raposo hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. In the 31st minute Niki Lauda 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 32 minutes Mexico's defender was forced to head the ball over the line for a corner. It was Wu Li Zhi who took care of the corner kick. Wu Li Zhi made a great header on RIVER's corner, it was just that Mexico's Dante Lacasa managed to reach the ball for a save. In the 34th minute, Joel Gaona 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: 4-0. An unexpectedly hard shot by Joel Gaona in the 42nd minute of play forced RIVER's goalkeeper Marcial Lordi 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 43rd minute. Wu Li Zhi's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Dante Lacasa read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 45th minute of play. When the referee blew for the end of the half the home team players were clearly happier, as they went in to the break leading 4-0.

The wind increased when Joel Gaona made the kick off in the second half. After having played for 50 minutes, Joel Gaona managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Mexico's supporters crossed their fingers, but Joel Gaona was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Marcial Lordi took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Alberto Tafalla, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Dante Lacasa came out of the goal in the 58th minute to try and stop a shot by RIVER's Niki Lauda. But to his dismay, Niki Lauda quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 4-1. In the 69th minute Niki Lauda 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. Lautaro Mancebo sent away a hard shot on goal in the 76th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. RIVER made a substitution. Tobias Belmiro replaced Rosendo Osorio. Lautaro Mancebo fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 78th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Marcial Lordi having to interfere. RIVER's Marcial Lordi played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Joel Gaona in the 85th minute of play. Dante Lacasa made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Eric Târban in the 90th minute of play. 94 minutes into the match, Mexico's goal looked a bit too open when Niki Lauda came free, but Dante Lacasa reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Mexico walked away with a well-earned victory that was much celebrated by the crowd.