Challenge

Estadio Azteca
Spectators: 45 (Terracing: 35, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) Mexico's Joel Gaona 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 IRAKLIS getting a freekick after 3 minutes play. Alketas Kontodimos hit a great ball. With a little luck, IRAKLIS's Iakovos Perivolakis got control of the ball when Lautaro Mancebo tried to sneak it across the goal line. IRAKLIS's defense didn't have a chance, in the 4th minute, when Lautaro Mancebo scored to the left of an out of position Iakovos Perivolakis, making the score, 1-0. Iakovos Perivolakis showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Joel Gaona in the 7th minute of the match. An unexpectedly hard shot by Chinomso Zelarayan in the 9th minute of play forced Mexico's goalkeeper Dante Lacasa to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. An unexpectedly hard shot by Miltiadis Liakos in the 12th minute of play forced Mexico's goalkeeper Dante Lacasa to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Iakovos Perivolakis made an important save on a dangerous shot by Lautaro Mancebo in the 15th minute. Mexico were awarded a corner in the 16th minute after IRAKLIS's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Joel Gaona took the corner. With a little luck, IRAKLIS's Iakovos Perivolakis got control of the ball when Lautaro Mancebo tried to sneak it across the goal line. In the 25th minute of the match, Lautaro Mancebo got a very nice opportunity to score, but Iakovos Perivolakis was well-placed and pushed the ball away from the goal at the left post. With a little luck, IRAKLIS's Iakovos Perivolakis got control of the ball when Lautaro Mancebo tried to sneak it across the goal line. Lautaro Mancebo came free with the goalkeeper in the 30th minute of the match, and shot straight on target. The shot was a little too simple and Iakovos Perivolakis could save by the left post. 31 minutes into the match, Mexico's goal looked a bit too open when Chinomso Zelarayan came free, but Dante Lacasa reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. The audience thought a goal was coming when Lautaro Mancebo got free with Iakovos Perivolakis in the 33rd minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Mexico's Joel Gaona got a good chance for a goal in the 36th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Dante Lacasa showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Chinomso Zelarayan, who was totally free with the ball in the 38th minute. After 39 minutes Mexico's defender was forced to head the ball over the line for a corner. It was Chinomso Zelarayan who took care of the corner kick. After taking down the ball on IRAKLIS's corner Chinomso Zelarayan fired away a hard shot, but the defenders efficiently covered the most dangerous angles and Dante Lacasa quite easily take care of the ball. After having played for 41 minutes, Lautaro Mancebo managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Mexico's supporters crossed their fingers, but Lautaro Mancebo was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. When Alketas Kolliopoulos fell near the penalty area in the 46th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored IRAKLIS's protests and gave Alketas Kolliopoulos a yellow card for diving instead. The supporters of Mexico booed when IRAKLIS was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 46 match minutes in a wonderful position. Alketas Kolliopoulos didn't get a good kick on the ball. 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.

Iakovos Perivolakis made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Alberto Tafalla in the 55th minute of play. 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 56th minute. The corner led Mexico's Joel Gaona to fire away a dangerous shot which Iakovos Perivolakis despite some difficulties managed to get hold on the ball. Joel Gaona received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 63rd minute. Iakovos Perivolakis tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Leonardo Leoz received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 66th minute. Iakovos Perivolakis tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. IRAKLIS's Iakovos Perivolakis played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Joel Gaona in the 68th minute of play. Joel Gaona recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 70th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. 71 minutes into the match, IRAKLIS's goal looked a bit too open when Joel Gaona came free, but Iakovos Perivolakis reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After a defensive mix-up in IRAKLIS's zone, Joel Gaona stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Iakovos Perivolakis 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. Joel Gaona's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Iakovos Perivolakis read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 77th minute of play. After taking down the ball on Mexico's corner Joel Gaona fired away a hard shot, but the defenders efficiently covered the most dangerous angles and Iakovos Perivolakis quite easily take care of the ball. When Luca Zorita got free in front of the goal in the 81st minute he wasn't very focused and chipped the ball just over the goal. Iakovos Perivolakis was delighted since he was out of position and the ball would have got in if it had gone under the crossbar. IRAKLIS's Iakovos Perivolakis played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Joel Gaona in the 87th minute of play. When Chinomso Zelarayan came up free with the goalie in the 88th minute, the IRAKLIS fans jumped to their feet. But the shot missed the goal by a fraction of an inch, and the fans sat back down disappointed that Chinomso Zelarayan couldn't finish the play. The supporters of Mexico booed when IRAKLIS was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 89 match minutes in a wonderful position. Eustratios Papakrivos didn't get a good kick on the ball. Lautaro Mancebo received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 93rd minute. Iakovos Perivolakis tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. 94 minutes into the match, Joel Gaona had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Iakovos Perivolakis. IRAKLIS's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Joel Gaona was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 2-0. Mexico's supporters were delighted with their team's performance and swarmed onto the pitch at the end of the match to celebrate the victory with the players.