Challenge

Estadio Azteca
Spectators: 45 (Terracing: 35, 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. Jeremiah Salter started the match with the kick off. In the 6th minute, Irinel Stăniloaie hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Miroslav Smola showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Alberto Tafalla, who was totally free with the ball in the 14th minute. Miroslav Smola showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Joel Gaona in the 17th minute of the match. Dante Lacasa took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Korneliusz Antoszewski, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. The audience was convinced that Korneliusz Antoszewski's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Dante Lacasa was relentless in the 18th minute of the game. In the 23rd minute Joel Gaona shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Miroslav Smola saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Miroslav Smola made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Joel Gaona in the 24th minute of play. 27 minutes into the match, DACIA UNIREA BRĂILA's goal looked a bit too open when Alberto Tafalla came free, but Miroslav Smola reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. 29 minutes into the match, Mexico's goal looked a bit too open when Louis-Philippe De Fremeaux came free, but Dante Lacasa reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. An unexpectedly hard shot by Louis-Philippe De Fremeaux in the 33rd minute of play forced Mexico's goalkeeper Dante Lacasa to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Miroslav Smola made an important save on a dangerous shot by Lautaro Mancebo in the 39th minute. Mexico's Joel Gaona got a good chance for a goal in the 45th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. All the noise was coming from the home fans when the whistle went for half-time. The home team had fought hardest to put themselves in a deserved lead.

In the 53rd minute Alberto Tafalla shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Miroslav Smola saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Alberto Tafalla blasted a shot towards the goal in the 55th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Miroslav Smola having to make a save. Miroslav Smola 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 58th minute. Miroslav Smola took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Alberto Tafalla, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. 63 minutes into the match, DACIA UNIREA BRĂILA's goal looked a bit too open when Facundo Cadaval came free, but Miroslav Smola reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Alberto Tafalla recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 66th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. 70 minutes into the match, Alberto Tafalla had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Miroslav Smola. DACIA UNIREA BRĂILA's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Alberto Tafalla was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 2-0. After 76 played minutes DACIA UNIREA BRĂILA got a freekick which was hit by Jeremiah Salter. If Alberto Tafalla had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 79th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Miroslav Smola showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Alberto Tafalla in the 84th minute of the match. 90 minutes into the match, DACIA UNIREA BRĂILA's goal looked a bit too open when Lautaro Mancebo came free, but Miroslav Smola reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. When Joel Gaona fell near the penalty area in the 92nd minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Mexico's protests and gave Joel Gaona a yellow card for diving instead. The crowd rose to their feet and cheered when the referee blew the final whistle. Mexico had won after a very even match.