Challenge

Estadio Azteca
Spectators: 47 (Terracing: 36, Seating: 11, VIP seats: 0) FC Werdenberg's Tudor Caragea 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. A collision led to Mexico getting a freekick after 2 minutes play. Leonardo Leoz hit a great ball. 4 minutes into the match, FC Werdenberg's goal looked a bit too open when Luca Zorita came free, but Manuel Lajoie reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After some careless play in the Mexico defense, Tudor Caragea kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Dante Lacasa. The Mexico fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Dante Lacasa should have stopped the shot. Manuel Lajoie made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Alberto Tafalla in the 13th minute of play. Evgeniy Babich blasted a shot towards the goal in the 14th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Dante Lacasa having to make a save. In the 15th minute, Lazarus Kurmann ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Dante Lacasa was frozen by the shot and now it was 0-2. Lautaro Mancebo could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 18th minute of the match, but Manuel Lajoie made a huge save. In the 20th match minute, Mexico was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Felix Luque to maneuver through the defense. Dante Lacasa made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Evgeniy Babich in the 23rd minute of play. Simon Gunnarsson kicked well hit freekick during the 26th minute of the match. After a defensive mix-up in FC Werdenberg's zone, Joel Gaona stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Manuel Lajoie came out of the goal and Joel Gaona tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. With his leg Manuel Lajoie managed to avoid a goal in the 34thth minute, when Mexico's Lautaro Mancebo fired away a shot with a lot of spin towards his right hand side. 37 minutes into the match, Mexico's goal looked a bit too open when Gökmen Uzkan came free, but Dante Lacasa reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 39th match minute, FC Werdenberg was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Diego Miranda to maneuver through the defense. 47 minutes into the game, Alberto Tafalla lined in a short shot 1-2 behind a frustrated Manuel Lajoie. After the first half FC Werdenberg were leading 1-2. They had played with great self confidence throughout the first half and fully deserved their lead.

An unexpectedly hard shot by Alberto Tafalla in the 55th minute of play forced FC Werdenberg's goalkeeper Manuel Lajoie to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Felix Luque hit a great freekick 60 minutes into the match. FC Werdenberg's Simon Gunnarsson couldn't find anyone to pass the ball to, so he shot a long shot towards the goal in the 61st minute. The shot went wide which resulted in a goal kick for Mexico. In the 63rdth minute of the game Tudor Caragea who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Mexico's Dante Lacasa was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. Manuel Lajoie made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Alberto Tafalla in the 65th minute of play. Alberto Tafalla scored 2-2 in the 67th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Manuel Lajoie, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Alberto Tafalla in the 69th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Manuel Lajoie saved FC Werdenberg from getting behind. Manuel Lajoie made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Alberto Tafalla in the 75th minute of play. Manuel Lajoie made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Lautaro Mancebo in the 81st minute of play. Tudor Caragea in the 83rdth minute had a little luck and got a chance for a shot in front of the goal. Without hesitation aimed to the right of Dante Lacasa, who managed to lunge to the right direction and made a save. Facundo Cadaval sent away a hard shot on goal in the 86th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. An unexpectedly hard shot by Tudor Caragea in the 88th minute of play forced Mexico's goalkeeper Dante Lacasa to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. 93 minutes into the match, FC Werdenberg's goal looked a bit too open when Joel Gaona came free, but Manuel Lajoie reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. An unexpectedly hard shot by Lorenzo Cazalla in the 95th minute of play forced FC Werdenberg's goalkeeper Manuel Lajoie to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Manuel Lajoie showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Alberto Tafalla in the 97th minute of the match. Mexico were clearly unhappy with the draw, as they felt they had done enough to earn themselves a victory.