Challenge

Gazprom Arena
Spectators: 40 (Terracing: 31, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Håkan Kjellman took the kick off in the first half of the match. After 4 minutes FC Zenit Saint Petersburg's defender was forced to head the ball over the line for a corner. It was Joel Gaona who took care of the corner kick. A nice corner shot did that Joel Gaona got away a dangerous shot. Despite this Zafer Hürsel quite easily got ahold of the ball to make the save. Luca Zorita took the ball and in the 6 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Zafer Hürsel. Zafer Hürsel dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 0-1. The supporters of Mexico booed when FC Zenit Saint Petersburg was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 8 match minutes in a wonderful position. Arvid Gallin didn't get a good kick on the ball. Facundo Cadaval hit a great freekick 13 minutes into the match. In the 15th minute of the match, Håkan Kjellman got a very nice opportunity to score, but Dante Lacasa was well-placed and pushed the ball away from the goal at the left post. Joel Gaona might have been able to make a better finish in the 18th 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. Johannes Botvidsson hit a great freekick 21 minutes into the match. Lautaro Mancebo received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 22nd minute. Zafer Hürsel tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. 28 minutes into the match, FC Zenit Saint Petersburg's goal looked a bit too open when Alberto Tafalla came free, but Zafer Hürsel reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 32nd minute of the match, Emanuel Emander tried to roll the ball into the goal by the right post, but Dante Lacasa saw his intentions and got control of the ball before it passed the line. 37 minutes into the match, Mexico's Alberto Tafalla sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Zafer Hürsel narrowly saved just below the crossbar. In the 38th minute, Håkan Kjellman left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The FC Zenit Saint Petersburg fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 1-1. Hami Çerağ kicked well hit freekick during the 41st minute of the match. Mexico's Dante Lacasa played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Emanuel Emander in the 43rd minute of play. In the 45th minute of the match, Håkan Kjellman got a very nice opportunity to score, but Dante Lacasa was well-placed and pushed the ball away from the goal at the left post. In the 46th minute Emanuel Emander 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. The supporters of FC Zenit Saint Petersburg booed when Mexico was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 47 match minutes in a wonderful position. Luca Rouco didn't get a good kick on the ball. After a very even first half the match was still tied. The players went to their respective dressing rooms to discuss the tactics for the second half.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Joel Gaona made a kick off. After having played for 55 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. In the 56th minute Håkan Kjellman 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. Zafer Hürsel showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Luca Zorita in the 65th minute of the match. In the 66th minute of the match Mexico got a corner. FC Zenit Saint Petersburg'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. Mexico's Joel Gaona was first on the ball when the corner was shot and he dangerously headed the ball towards goal, but Zafer Hürsel in the goal jumped up to prevent it from getting in. Zafer Hürsel 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 68th minute. In the 74th minute, Luca Zorita reached a very good position and smashed the ball with a huge effort into the net, just to the left of Zafer Hürsel. The goal made the score 1-2. FC Zenit Saint Petersburg made a substitution. Valentin Ivarsson replaced Emanuel Emander. Zafer Hürsel took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Lautaro Mancebo, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Zafer Hürsel took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Alberto Tafalla, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Aron Sjöberg tried in the game's 90th match minute to clear up in front of his own goal but it went so bad that he put the ball into the goal to the left of an unhappy Zafer Hürsel. An annoying self made goal, 1-4. The away crowd were delighted with the way their team had played and cheered loudly when the final whistle sounded. Mexico walked away with the win, even though the match was close until the end.