Challenge

Estadio Azteca
Spectators: 47 (Terracing: 36, Seating: 11, VIP seats: 0) The mood of the audience was pleasant when Joel Gaona made the kick off which started today's match. 3 minutes into the game, Suat Kaya cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 0-1. Dante Lacasa was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. In the 7th minute, Vergil Rupov left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The Genk fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 0-2. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Rain De Hond in the 10th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Dante Lacasa saved Mexico from getting behind. Jannes Van Leempoel made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Alberto Tafalla in the 13th minute of play. Mexico's Dante Lacasa played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Vergil Rupov in the 17th minute of play. Dante Lacasa made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Vergil Rupov in the 22nd minute of play. An unexpectedly hard shot by Rain De Hond in the 25th minute of play forced Mexico's goalkeeper Dante Lacasa to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 36th minute Suat Kaya 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. After 37 played minutes Mexico got a freekick which was hit by Felix Luque. After a defensive mix-up in Genk's zone, Lautaro Mancebo stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Jannes Van Leempoel came out of the goal and Lautaro Mancebo tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Genk's Thomas-Jan Van de Weijer was substituted for Tony Mampaerts. Luck had favoured the away team in the first, and they walked off with a 0-2 lead.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Vergil Rupov was the one to do the kick off. In the 52ndth minute of the game Joel Gaona who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Genk's Jannes Van Leempoel was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. In the 54th match minute, Mexico was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Luca Rouco to maneuver through the defense. 55 minutes into the match, Mexico's goal looked a bit too open when Alfons Rijniers came free, but Dante Lacasa reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. An unexpectedly hard shot by Alexander Klemensson in the 56th minute of play forced Mexico's goalkeeper Dante Lacasa to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 57th minute, Felix Luque hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. In the 58th minute, Genk's Suat Kaya ran free of his marker and smoothly shot the ball into the goal behind Dante Lacasa. Dante Lacasa yelled at his defense, as they had left him out to dry. 0-3. In the 61st minute, Lautaro Mancebo ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Jannes Van Leempoel was frozen by the shot and now it was 1-3. Dante Lacasa took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Rain De Hond, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 72nd minute, Luca Zorita ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Jannes Van Leempoel was frozen by the shot and now it was 2-3. Suat Kaya could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 77th minute of the match, but Dante Lacasa made a huge save. 78 minutes into the game, Mexico's Joel Gaona nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Jannes Van Leempoel made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 3-3. Jannes Van Leempoel showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Alberto Tafalla, who was totally free with the ball in the 87th minute. Jannes Van Leempoel showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Facundo Cadaval in the 89th minute of the match. Dante Lacasa made a fantastic save in the 91st minute, when Suat Kaya sent off a good shot on target. Dante Lacasa showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Rain De Hond in the 93rd minute of the match. Mexico's Dante Lacasa proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 95th minute of the match, managed to save Mexico from getting a goal against them. The second half was just like the first, even and exciting. The match ended in a draw.