Challenge

Estadio Azteca
Spectators: 49 (Terracing: 38, Seating: 11, VIP seats: 0) The mood of the audience was pleasant when Claudio Quiroga made the kick off which started today's match. Apostol Sokolov was out of position in the 3 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: 1-0. In the 8th minute the ball was on its way in behind Mexico's goalkeeper Dante Lacasa, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. Mexico's Dante Lacasa played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Claudio Quiroga in the 10th minute of play. 11 minutes into the match, Monitor Huáscar's goal looked a bit too open when Luca Zorita came free, but Apostol Sokolov reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. An unexpectedly hard shot by Joel Gaona in the 13th minute of play forced Monitor Huáscar's goalkeeper Apostol Sokolov to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Mexico's Dante Lacasa played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Claudio Quiroga in the 15th minute of play. Paulo Fallabes received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 17th minute. Dante Lacasa tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. 20 minutes into the match, Monitor Huáscar's goal looked a bit too open when Alberto Tafalla came free, but Apostol Sokolov reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 22nd minute, Claudio Quiroga ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Dante Lacasa was frozen by the shot and now it was 1-1. In the 31st match minute, Mexico was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Leonardo Leoz to maneuver through the defense. After 36 minutes, Artemio Varas mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Monitor Huáscar and the Mexico players grew even worse after the yellow card. Through an outstanding action, after 40 minutes, Apostol Sokolov successfully got his hands on the ball before it slid into the goal at the right post. After a defensive mix-up in Mexico's zone, Paulo Fallabes stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Dante Lacasa came out of the goal and Paulo Fallabes tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. The score stood at 1-1 when the half time whistle went. Both sets of players seemed reasonably pleased with how the match was going.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Joel Gaona stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. Leonardo Leoz kicked well hit freekick during the 52nd minute of the match. After 53 played minutes Monitor Huáscar got a freekick which was hit by Marcelo Illanes. An unexpectedly hard shot by Claudio Quiroga in the 58th minute of play forced Mexico's goalkeeper Dante Lacasa to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. An unexpectedly hard shot by Alberto Tafalla in the 60th minute of play forced Monitor Huáscar's goalkeeper Apostol Sokolov to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Claudio Quiroga's shot when he came free in front of the goal in the 62ndth minute, Dante Lacasa skillfully showed off with a save to what seemed to be an obvious goal. In the 63rd match minute, Monitor Huáscar was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Jeffrey Van Craesbeeck to maneuver through the defense. Monitor Huáscar's Bernardinho Bala was substituted for Artemio Varas. Monitor Huáscar's Nazario Arechavala was substituted for Johnny Nyström. Jeffrey Van Craesbeeck hit a great freekick 64 minutes into the match. In the 65th minute of the match Joel Gaona sent off a long shot with destination to the right of the goalkeeper, but Apostol Sokolov skillfully saved the ball. An unexpectedly hard shot by Gines Hubieta in the 68th minute of play forced Mexico's goalkeeper Dante Lacasa to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. 70 minutes into the match, Monitor Huáscar's goal looked a bit too open when Joel Gaona came free, but Apostol Sokolov reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 72nd minute the ball was on its way in behind Mexico's goalkeeper Dante Lacasa, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. After 73 minutes Mexico's defender was forced to head the ball over the line for a corner. It was Paulo Fallabes who took care of the corner kick. Paulo Fallabes made a great header on Monitor Huáscar's corner, it was just that Mexico's Dante Lacasa managed to reach the ball for a save. If Lautaro Mancebo had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 77th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. 85 minutes into the game, Luca Zorita was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Mexico's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Monitor Huáscar the free kick. After 87 played minutes Mexico got a freekick which was hit by Luca Zorita. In the 90th minute, Monitor Huáscar's Claudio Quiroga 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. 1-2. The Monitor Huáscar supporters could be heard counting down the last seconds of the match. They errupted in celebration when the whistle blew, knowing Monitor Huáscar would go home with victory in their luggage after a match that easily could have ended differently.