Challenge

Estadio Azteca
Spectators: 45 (Terracing: 35, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Joel Gaona took the kick off in the first half of the match. Joel Gaona had several of the S.E.R. Caxias do Sul's defenders around him in the penalty area when he, after 3 minutes of play, received a pass and succeeded in some way to shoot a shot which went straight ahead into goal. This resulted in a 1-0 score and a disappointed Esen Sanal as he didn't even see the shot coming. Esen Sanal took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Alberto Tafalla, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. 12 minutes into the match, Mexico's Joel Gaona sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Esen Sanal narrowly saved just below the crossbar. The audience thought a goal was coming when Alberto Tafalla got free with Esen Sanal in the 14th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. 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 15th minute. In the 19th minute Lei Feng Yan 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. 20 minutes into the match, Mexico's goal looked a bit too open when Lucio Siekkötter came free, but Dante Lacasa reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After a defensive mix-up in S.E.R. Caxias do Sul's zone, Lautaro Mancebo stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Esen Sanal 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. After some fancy dribbling in the 24th minute, Joel Gaona managed to get in a good position for a shot. Mexico's supporters rose to their feet, but Joel Gaona was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Esen Sanal breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. S.E.R. Caxias do Sul's Esen Sanal played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Joel Gaona in the 27th minute of play. Joel Gaona took the ball and in the 27 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Esen Sanal. Esen Sanal dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 2-0. Mexico's Alberto Tafalla got a good chance for a goal in the 32nd minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Alberto Tafalla who was well placed in front of the goal fired away a dangerous shot that in the 34thth minute tested the skills of Esen Sanal when he managed to save the team from getting behind. 36 minutes into the match, Mexico's Lautaro Mancebo sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Esen Sanal narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Dante Lacasa showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Renato Augusto, who was totally free with the ball in the 37th minute. Lautaro Mancebo could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 38th minute of the match, but Esen Sanal made a huge save. Lautaro Mancebo scored 3-0 in the 40th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Esen Sanal, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. 45 minutes into the match, Renato Augusto notched a goal, 3-1, to the right of Mexico's Dante Lacasa. Dante Lacasa was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. 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.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Renato Augusto made a kick off. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Joel Gaona in the 50th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Esen Sanal prevented the ball from getting in the gole. In the 51st minute the ball was on its way in behind S.E.R. Caxias do Sul's goalkeeper Esen Sanal, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. Mexico's Dante Lacasa played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Renato Augusto in the 53rd minute of play. Esen Sanal made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Joel Gaona in the 55th minute of play. The audience thought a goal was coming when Lei Feng Yan got free with Dante Lacasa in the 59th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. In the 59th minute, Luca Zorita hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. 63 minutes into the match, Mexico's goalkeeper Dante Lacasa had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Lei Feng Yan. S.E.R. Caxias do Sul's Esen Sanal played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Lautaro Mancebo in the 64th minute of play. The audience thought a goal was coming when Lei Feng Yan got free with Dante Lacasa in the 71st minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Renato Augusto's shot straight on target was not completely harmless. The ball had pretty good speed, but Dante Lacasa firmly grabbed it by the left post. In the 75th minute, Lei Feng Yan 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 3-2. S.E.R. Caxias do Sul's Esen Sanal played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Lautaro Mancebo in the 80th minute of play. The supporters of Mexico booed when S.E.R. Caxias do Sul was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 92 match minutes in a wonderful position. Wellington Fonseca didn't get a good kick on the ball. After a defensive mix-up in S.E.R. Caxias do Sul's zone, Joel Gaona stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Esen Sanal 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. Dante Lacasa made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Lucio Siekkötter in the 95th minute of play. The referee blew his whistle, and the match came to a close. The players exchanged shirts and headed down the tunnel. The Mexico fans cheered their team off the field, for while S.E.R. Caxias do Sul had put up a good fight, they were unable to come out of the game with any points to show for their effort.