Challenge

Aussie Stadium
Spectators: 45 (Terracing: 35, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Emanuel Ogășanu started the match with the kick off. In the 9th minute Alberto Tafalla shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Sebastian Titz saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Luca Zorita received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 10th minute. Sebastian Titz tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. In the 12th minute Önder Cebi 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. Mexico's Dante Lacasa proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 18th minute of the match, managed to save Mexico from getting a goal against them. Sebastian Titz showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Joel Gaona, who was totally free with the ball in the 19th minute. Angelo Milanese'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. After 23 minutes of play, Mexico's Facundo Cadaval made it 0-1 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Sebastian Titz was left in no man's land by his defense there! In the 33rd minute Joel Gaona shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Sebastian Titz saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. With an all-out effort, Sydney FC's Dante Lacasa threw himself towards the right post 35 minutes into the match and grabbed hold of the ball from Önder Cebi, which otherwise would have been placed in the net. 36 minutes into the match, Sydney FC's goal looked a bit too open when Joel Gaona came free, but Sebastian Titz reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Sebastian Titz took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Joel Gaona, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 39th minute Lautaro Mancebo shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Sebastian Titz saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Dante Lacasa took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Guy Rothe, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. 44 minutes into the match, Mexico's goal looked a bit too open when Önder Cebi came free, but Dante Lacasa reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Even after changing tactics the home team jogged off the field with a 0-1 deficit. They would have to work harder if they wanted to turn things around in the second half.

Sebastian Titz made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Alberto Tafalla in the 51st minute of play. An unexpectedly hard shot by Önder Cebi in the 53rd minute of play forced Mexico's goalkeeper Dante Lacasa to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. A collision led to Mexico getting a freekick after 54 minutes play. Lorenzo Cazalla hit a great ball. With a little luck, Sydney FC's Sebastian Titz got control of the ball when Lautaro Mancebo tried to sneak it across the goal line. An unexpectedly hard shot by Önder Cebi in the 60th minute of play forced Mexico's goalkeeper Dante Lacasa to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. After a rather tough play, Mexico's Joel Gaona got a free kick in the 63rd minute. Sydney FC's Guy Rothe got a good chance for a goal in the 68th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. After 69 played minutes Sydney FC got a freekick which was hit by Armando Abeita. Sebastian Titz made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Alberto Tafalla in the 70th minute of play. An unexpectedly hard shot by Angelo Milanese in the 73rd minute of play forced Mexico's goalkeeper Dante Lacasa to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Lautaro Mancebo came free with the goalkeeper in the 74th minute of the match, and shot straight on target. The shot was a little too simple and Sebastian Titz could save by the left post. Dante Lacasa showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Önder Cebi, who was totally free with the ball in the 80th minute. Önder Cebi might have been able to make a better finish in the 83rd minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Dante Lacasa. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Önder Cebi ran back to his position shaking his head. Alberto Tafalla hit a great freekick 90 minutes into the match. Mexico's Dante Lacasa played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Önder Cebi in the 92nd minute of play. After 96 minutes, Luca Zorita mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Mexico and the Sydney FC players grew even worse after the yellow card. After a rather tough play, Mexico's Luca Zorita got a free kick in the 96th minute. The Mexico supporters could be heard counting down the last seconds of the match. They errupted in celebration when the whistle blew, knowing Mexico would go home with victory in their luggage after a match that easily could have ended differently.