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. In the 4th minute Joel Gaona shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Jörgen Sjöman saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Alberto Tafalla could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 7th minute of the match, but Jörgen Sjöman made a huge save. Dante Lacasa showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Lars Tidén, who was totally free with the ball in the 10th minute. Lautaro Mancebo came free with the goalkeeper in the 14th minute of the match, and shot straight on target. The shot was a little too simple and Jörgen Sjöman could save by the left post. An unexpectedly hard shot by Josef Bäck in the 16th minute of play forced Mexico's goalkeeper Dante Lacasa to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Sven-Ove Eliasson'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. Sven-Ove Eliasson helped the player get up and apologised. A collision led to Mellansels stationsgäng getting a freekick after 19 minutes play. Sven-Ove Eliasson hit a great ball. The long shot by Joel Gaona in the 19th minute really tested Jörgen Sjöman's skills. The ball was on its way into the goal to the left of him when he managed to stretch himself and save the shot and avoid a goal. After 23 played minutes Mellansels stationsgäng got a freekick which was hit by Sven-Ove Eliasson. In the 25th match minute, Mellansels stationsgäng was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Samuel Hultman to maneuver through the defense. 29 minutes into the match, Mellansels stationsgäng's goalkeeper Jörgen Sjöman had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Lautaro Mancebo. With a little luck, Mellansels stationsgäng's Jörgen Sjöman got control of the ball when Alberto Tafalla tried to sneak it across the goal line. Jörgen Sjöman was out of position in the 31 minute of play, and Alberto Tafalla capitalized on the mistake with a soft shot into the goal. Alberto Tafalla really showed his touch with that goal: 1-0. 36 minutes into the match, Orvar Hansson had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Dante Lacasa. Mexico's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Orvar Hansson was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 1-1. The crowd rose to their feet as Mexico's Lautaro Mancebo slotted home a wonderful shot that went in to the left of Jörgen Sjöman. That made the score 2-1 after 39 minutes of play. When Alberto Tafalla came up free with the goalie in the 44th minute, the Mexico 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 Alberto Tafalla couldn't finish the play. After having played for 47 minutes, Joel Gaona managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Mexico's supporters crossed their fingers, but Joel Gaona was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. No-one was surprised that the home team were leading 2-1 at half-time.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Samuel Hultman was the one to do the kick off. Dante Lacasa showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Samuel Hultman in the 55th minute of the match. Mellansels stationsgäng's Jörgen Sjöman played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Joel Gaona in the 56th minute of play. In the 58th minute Lautaro Mancebo shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Jörgen Sjöman saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. After 62 minutes of play, Mellansels stationsgäng's Samuel Hultman made it 2-2 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! 65 minutes into the game, Alberto Tafalla cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 3-2. Jörgen Sjöman was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. In the 75th minute Joel Gaona shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Jörgen Sjöman saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Jörgen Sjöman made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Joel Gaona in the 77th minute of play. Jörgen Sjöman took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Lautaro Mancebo, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. 81 minutes into the game, Mexico's Lautaro Mancebo nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Jörgen Sjöman made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 4-2. Dante Lacasa made a fantastic save in the 84th minute, when Samuel Hultman sent off a good shot on target. The supporters of Mexico booed when Mellansels stationsgäng was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 85 match minutes in a wonderful position. Wiktor Sigman didn't get a good kick on the ball. In the 89th minute Joel Gaona shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Jörgen Sjöman saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. After a rather tough play, Mexico's Facundo Cadaval got a free kick in the 90th minute. When Sven-Ove Eliasson came up free with the goalie in the 91st minute, the Mellansels stationsgäng 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 Sven-Ove Eliasson couldn't finish the play. There were very few away supporters still in the ground by the end of the match. Most of them had left early, disgusted by the way their team had been torn apart. Mexico fully deserved thier win.