Challenge

Gazprom Arena
Spectators: 40 (Terracing: 31, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) Joel Gaona started the match with the kick off in front of an excited audience. An unexpectedly hard shot by Alberto Tafalla in the 3rd minute of play forced FC Zenit Saint Petersburg's goalkeeper Zafer Hürsel to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 4th minute of the match, Peter Snell got a very nice opportunity to score, but Dante Lacasa was well-placed and pushed the ball away from the goal at the left post. 6 minutes into the match, FC Zenit Saint Petersburg's goal looked a bit too open when Luca Zorita came free, but Zafer Hürsel reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Dante Lacasa made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Emanuel Emander in the 9th minute of play. Dante Lacasa took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Peter Snell, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Zafer Hürsel showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Alberto Tafalla in the 17th minute of the match. Dante Lacasa made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Emanuel Emander in the 20th minute of play. Dante Lacasa took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Emanuel Emander, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. FC Zenit Saint Petersburg's Zafer Hürsel played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Alberto Tafalla in the 29th minute of play. FC Zenit Saint Petersburg's Zafer Hürsel played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Alberto Tafalla in the 30th minute of play. If Joel Gaona had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 32nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After a rather tough play, Mexico's Alberto Tafalla got a free kick in the 43rd minute. In the 44th minute, Felix Luque hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Aron Sjöberg hit a great freekick 45 minutes into the match. After 47 played minutes Mexico got a freekick which was hit by Felix Luque. After a very even first half the match was still tied. The players went to their respective dressing rooms to discuss the tactics for the second half.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Håkan Kjellman to strike the kick off in the second half. With an all-out effort, Mexico's Zafer Hürsel threw himself towards the right post 51 minutes into the match and grabbed hold of the ball from Joel Gaona, which otherwise would have been placed in the net. Lautaro Mancebo could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 54th minute of the match, but Zafer Hürsel made a huge save. Zafer Hürsel took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Luca Zorita, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Zafer Hürsel showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Alberto Tafalla in the 58th minute of the match. In the 61st minute, Peter Snell 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 1-0. 68 minutes into the match, FC Zenit Saint Petersburg's goal looked a bit too open when Joel Gaona came free, but Zafer Hürsel reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Håkan Kjellman fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 71st minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Dante Lacasa having to interfere. FC Zenit Saint Petersburg made a substitution. Valentin Ivarsson replaced Emanuel Emander. Alberto Tafalla was really disappointed when he shot the ball just outside the right post instead of scoring a goal in the 75th minute. Mexico's manager could be seen on the sidelines shaking his head and muttering to himself as his team had just wasted another chance. After some fancy dribbling in the 77th minute, Alberto Tafalla managed to get in a good position for a shot. Mexico's supporters rose to their feet, but Alberto Tafalla was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Zafer Hürsel breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. After 78 played minutes FC Zenit Saint Petersburg got a freekick which was hit by Johannes Botvidsson. In the 80th minute, Joel Gaona made a precise shot to the right of Zafer Hürsel. FC Zenit Saint Petersburg's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 1-1. 85 minutes into the match, Mexico's Alberto Tafalla sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Zafer Hürsel narrowly saved just below the crossbar. In the 87th minute Peter Snell 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. If Joel Gaona had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 89th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Dante Lacasa didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Valentin Ivarsson went, in the 93rd minute, to the upper right corner, 2-1 was the resulting score.