Challenge

Estadio Azteca
Spectators: 49 (Terracing: 38, Seating: 11, VIP seats: 0) In the 9th minute Joel Gaona shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Lei Bin saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Dante Lacasa stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Andries De Putter's shot from short distance in the 10th minute. Lei Bin showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Joel Gaona, who was totally free with the ball in the 13th minute. An unexpectedly hard shot by Alberto Tafalla in the 14th minute of play forced AFC United's goalkeeper Lei Bin to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Thanks to some nice moves Lautaro Mancebo could shoot a difficult shot in the 19th minute, which Lei Bin however easily saved by the left post. With an all-out effort, Mexico's Lei Bin threw himself towards the right post 21 minutes into the match and grabbed hold of the ball from Joel Gaona, which otherwise would have been placed in the net. Dante Lacasa showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Andries De Putter, who was totally free with the ball in the 23rd minute. After some careless play in the Mexico defense, Isaac Fernandez 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. Dante Lacasa took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Andries De Putter, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. A collision led to Mexico getting a freekick after 36 minutes play. Felix Luque hit a great ball. In the 38th minute Andries De Putter 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. Andries De Putter'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 46th minute of play. After 46 minutes, Facundo Cadaval mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Mexico and the AFC United players grew even worse after the yellow card. In the 47th minute, Facundo Cadaval hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. After the first half AFC United were leading 0-1. They had played with great self confidence throughout the first half and fully deserved their lead.

The wind increased when Andries De Putter made the kick off in the second half. In the 57th minute Andries De Putter 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. Lei Bin took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Alberto Tafalla, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 63rd match minute, AFC United was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Bilintx Trilla to maneuver through the defense. After 66 minutes of play, AFC United's Andries De Putter made it 0-2 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Dante Lacasa was left in no man's land by his defense there! AFC United made a substitution. Peru Diaz replaced Bilintx Trilla. Lei Bin showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Lautaro Mancebo in the 74th minute of the match. Lei Bin came out of the goal in the 74th minute to try and stop a shot by Mexico's Lautaro Mancebo. But to his dismay, Lautaro Mancebo quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 1-2. 81 minutes into the game, Mexico's Alberto Tafalla nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Lei Bin made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 2-2. In the 86thth minute of the game Faustino Asprilla 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. Mexico's defense didn't have a chance, in the 92nd minute, when Faustino Asprilla scored to the left of an out of position Dante Lacasa, making the score, 2-3. AFC United's Vintilă Arnăutu quite brazenly broke a throw-in by Leonardo Leoz, made in the 95th minute of the game. The Mexico supporters were disappointed that their team didn't take anything from the match, despite matching AFC United's performance. The match ended with a win for AFC United.