Challenge

Old Trafford
Spectators: 50 (Terracing: 38, Seating: 11, VIP seats: 1) The mood of the audience was pleasant when Valdemar Kuoppala made the kick off which started today's match. Edwin van der Sar showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Facundo Cadaval in the 4th minute of the match. In the 5th match minute, Manchester United FC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Aarre Uusiniemi to maneuver through the defense. 6 minutes into the game, Luca Zorita cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 0-1. Edwin van der Sar was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. After 17 played minutes Manchester United FC got a freekick which was hit by Alfred Laulaja. When Luca Rouco fell near the penalty area in the 18th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Mexico's protests and gave Luca Rouco a yellow card for diving instead. The supporters of Manchester United FC booed when Mexico was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 20 match minutes in a wonderful position. Facundo Cadaval didn't get a good kick on the ball. Manchester United FC's Edwin van der Sar played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Alberto Tafalla in the 22nd minute of play. If Alberto Tafalla had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 23rd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Eero Uusipaavalniemi struck a weak shot in the 32nd minute. Dante Lacasa didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Manchester United FC. Edwin van der Sar made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Lautaro Mancebo in the 36th minute of play. Edwin van der Sar showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Luca Zorita, who was totally free with the ball in the 41st minute. Edwin van der Sar stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Luca Zorita's shot from short distance in the 41st minute. When Joel Gaona came up free with the goalie in the 43rd 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 Joel Gaona couldn't finish the play. After 44 played minutes Mexico got a freekick which was hit by Facundo Cadaval. Dante Lacasa made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Taisto Pentsinen in the 45th minute of play. Edwin van der Sar didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Joel Gaona went, in the 46th minute, to the upper right corner, 0-2 was the resulting score. Even after changing tactics the home team jogged off the field with a 0-2 deficit. They would have to work harder if they wanted to turn things around in the second half.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Joel Gaona to strike the kick off in the second half. In the 53rd minute Alberto Tafalla shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Edwin van der Sar saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. A collision led to Mexico getting a freekick after 54 minutes play. Lautaro Mancebo hit a great ball. Lautaro Mancebo came free with the goalkeeper in the 56th minute of the match, and shot straight on target. The shot was a little too simple and Edwin van der Sar could save by the left post. Edwin van der Sar was out of position in the 58 minute of play, and Joel Gaona capitalized on the mistake with a soft shot into the goal. Joel Gaona really showed his touch with that goal: 0-3. In the 60th minute, Valdemar Kuoppala left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The Manchester United FC fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 1-3. 69 minutes into the match, Manchester United FC's goal looked a bit too open when Joel Gaona came free, but Edwin van der Sar reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. With an all-out effort, Mexico's Edwin van der Sar threw himself towards the right post 70 minutes into the match and grabbed hold of the ball from Joel Gaona, which otherwise would have been placed in the net. Dante Lacasa showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Valdemar Kuoppala in the 74th minute of the match. Joel Gaona fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 76th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Edwin van der Sar having to interfere. After 83 minutes of play, Manchester United FC's Valdemar Kuoppala made it 3-3 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! Edwin van der Sar showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Facundo Cadaval in the 90th minute of the match. An unexpectedly hard shot by Alberto Tafalla in the 92nd minute of play forced Manchester United FC's goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 93rd minute of the match Mexico got a corner. Manchester United FC's goalie ran out to the linesman to protest the call, but the linesman resolutely pointed his flag at the cornerflag. Joel Gaona ran over to the corner to take the kick. A nice corner shot did that Luca Rouco got away a dangerous shot. Despite this Edwin van der Sar quite easily got ahold of the ball to make the save. In the 96th match minute, Manchester United FC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Aarre Uusiniemi to maneuver through the defense. Mexico were unable to convert their possession into goals, allowing Manchester United FC to leave the ground with a draw.