Challenge

Gazprom Arena
Spectators: 40 (Terracing: 31, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) Håkan Kjellman started the match with the kick off in front of an excited audience. The audience thought a goal was coming when Håkan Kjellman got free with Dante Lacasa in the 6th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. An unexpectedly hard shot by Emanuel Emander in the 15th minute of play forced Mexico's goalkeeper Dante Lacasa to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Peter Snell sent away a hard shot on goal in the 17th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. With an all-out effort, FC Zenit Saint Petersburg's Dante Lacasa threw himself towards the right post 20 minutes into the match and grabbed hold of the ball from Emanuel Emander, which otherwise would have been placed in the net. An unexpectedly hard shot by Emanuel Emander in the 24th minute of play forced Mexico's goalkeeper Dante Lacasa to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Zafer Hürsel showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Lautaro Mancebo, who was totally free with the ball in the 27th minute. Håkan Kjellmans short, quick shot in the 28thth minute got Dante Lacasa to make great effort and bar the ball away from getting in. Dante Lacasa made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Emanuel Emander in the 29th minute of play. Zafer Hürsel made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Alberto Tafalla in the 30th minute of play. Zafer Hürsel made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Luca Zorita in the 33rd minute of play. In the 34th minute Mexico were awarded a corner. Joel Gaona went to the cornerflag to take it. The corner ended in Joel Gaona almost managing to get the ball behind the net, but FC Zenit Saint Petersburg's Zafer Hürsel did a great save. In the 38th minute, Håkan Kjellman made a precise shot to the right of Dante Lacasa. Mexico's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 1-0. Dante Lacasa made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Emanuel Emander in the 40th minute of play. Peter Snell sent away a hard shot on goal in the 44th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. No-one was surprised that the home team were leading 1-0 at half-time.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Joel Gaona made a kick off. FC Zenit Saint Petersburg's Zafer Hürsel proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 55th minute of the match, managed to save FC Zenit Saint Petersburg from getting a goal against them. 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 Joel Gaona in the 58th minute of play. 60 minutes into the game, Håkan Kjellman cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 2-0. Dante Lacasa was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. Peter Snell hit a great freekick 65 minutes into the match. FC Zenit Saint Petersburg's Gabriel Söderström was substituted for Jörgen Ekeroth. The supporters of Mexico booed when FC Zenit Saint Petersburg was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 66 match minutes in a wonderful position. Peter Snell didn't get a good kick on the ball. Joel Gaona might have been able to make a better finish in the 67th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Zafer Hürsel. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Joel Gaona ran back to his position shaking his head. With a little luck, FC Zenit Saint Petersburg's Zafer Hürsel got control of the ball when Lautaro Mancebo tried to sneak it across the goal line. An unexpectedly hard shot by Håkan Kjellman in the 77th minute of play forced Mexico's goalkeeper Dante Lacasa to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 79th minute of the match, Lautaro Mancebo got a very nice opportunity to score, but Zafer Hürsel was well-placed and pushed the ball away from the goal at the left post. In the 81st minute Valentin Ivarsson 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. Johannes Botvidsson's late challenge caught a Mexico's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Johannes Botvidsson helped the player get up and apologised. In the 89th minute, Johannes Botvidsson hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Lautaro Mancebo sent away a hard shot on goal in the 90th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. 92 minutes into the match, Mexico's goal looked a bit too open when Valentin Ivarsson 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 Zafer Hürsel in the 94th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort.