Challenge

Red Arena
Spectators: 52 (Terracing: 39, Seating: 12, VIP seats: 1) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when Remigiusz Gabis kicked off to start the match. After 2 played minutes Mexico got a freekick which was hit by Felix Luque. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Lorenzo Cazalla during the 4th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. In the 3rd minute, one of Mexico:s players had the ball in front of the goal but got pushed and fell. The referee felt it was an obvious case and blew a penalty for Mexico. The crowd rose to their feet as Ali Karimi kicked a wonderful shot that went in to the left of a diving Dante Lacasa. That made the score 1-0 in the 4 minute of play. Nils Elmhuus showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Joel Gaona in the 10th minute of the match. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Lorenzo Cazalla in the 13th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Nils Elmhuus saved Red Army from getting behind. Red Army's Nils Elmhuus played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Joel Gaona in the 18th minute of play. In the 20th minute Joel Gaona shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Nils Elmhuus saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Nils Elmhuus 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 30th minute. Lautaro Mancebo fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 47th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Nils Elmhuus having to interfere. No-one was surprised that the home team were leading 2-0 at half-time.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Joel Gaona to strike the kick off in the second half. 57 minutes into the match, Mexico's goal looked a bit too open when Soheil Mahdavikia came free, but Dante Lacasa reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Nils Elmhuus had great luck who in the 59thth minute grab hold of the ball when Joel Gaona from a short distance tried to put the ball inside the right post. Red Army's Nils Elmhuus played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Alberto Tafalla in the 64th minute of play. In the 64th minute Alberto Tafalla shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Nils Elmhuus saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. 66 minutes into the match, Red Army's goal looked a bit too open when Facundo Cadaval came free, but Nils Elmhuus reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Mexico were awarded a corner in the 67th minute after Red Army's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Joel Gaona took the corner. Dante Lacasa showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Remigiusz Gabis, who was totally free with the ball in the 72nd minute. Dante Lacasa showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Remigiusz Gabis in the 73rd minute of the match. Dante Lacasa stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Soheil Mahdavikia's shot from short distance in the 74th minute. After a rather tough play, Red Army's Hossein Fatehi got a free kick in the 76th minute. A hard shot by Joel Gaona from long distance, 77 minutes into the match, got Nils Elmhuus's attention. Through a fast twist with his body, he could stop the ball from going in on his right side. 80 minutes into the match, Red Army's goal looked a bit too open when Alberto Tafalla came free, but Nils Elmhuus reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. 81 minutes into the match, Mexico's goal looked a bit too open when Soheil Mahdavikia came free, but Dante Lacasa reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Nils Elmhuus showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Joel Gaona in the 83rd minute of the match. A collision led to Red Army getting a freekick after 84 minutes play. Arya Javaheri hit a great ball. Joel Gaona sent away a hard shot on goal in the 86th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. In the 88th match minute, Red Army was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Ali Reza Abdi to maneuver through the defense. In the 89th minute the ball was on its way in behind Red Army's goalkeeper Nils Elmhuus, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. Nils Elmhuus 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 93rd minute. In the 93rd minute, Mahbod Nikbakht-Vahedi hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Dante Lacasa showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Arya Javaheri in the 95th minute of the match. Mexico's players left the field with heads hung low after losing a match that had been finely balanced throughout.