Challenge

Allianz Parque
Spectators: 40 (Terracing: 31, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when José Carlos Simões kicked off to start the match. When Alberto Tafalla came up free with the goalie in the 6th 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 Alberto Tafalla couldn't finish the play. Alberto Tafalla received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 9th minute. Régis de Queirós tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. In the 12th minute, Luke Clist left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The Palmeiras fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 1-0. 16 minutes into the game, Iustin Bungeanu cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 2-0. Dante Lacasa was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. In the 18th minute Lautaro Mancebo shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Régis de Queirós saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. When Alberto Tafalla came up free with the goalie in the 22nd 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 Alberto Tafalla couldn't finish the play. 24 minutes into the game, José Carlos Simões cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 3-0. Dante Lacasa was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. 26 minutes into the match, Palmeiras's goal looked a bit too open when Lautaro Mancebo came free, but Régis de Queirós reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Régis de Queirós made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Lautaro Mancebo in the 28th minute of play. Iustin Bungeanu blasted a shot towards the goal in the 31st minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Dante Lacasa having to make a save. After 36 played minutes Palmeiras got a freekick which was hit by Luke Clist. Dante Lacasa made a fantastic save in the 38th minute, when Iustin Bungeanu sent off a good shot on target. After a defensive mix-up in Palmeiras's zone, Lautaro Mancebo stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Régis de Queirós 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. If Joel Gaona had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 47th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. No-one was surprised that the home team were leading 3-0 at half-time.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Joel Gaona was the one to do the kick off. Régis de Queirós made an important save on a dangerous shot by Lautaro Mancebo in the 53rd minute. 56 minutes into the match, Palmeiras's goal looked a bit too open when Joel Gaona came free, but Régis de Queirós reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Alberto Tafalla struck a weak shot in the 57th minute. Régis de Queirós didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Mexico. In the 72nd minute Joel Gaona shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Régis de Queirós saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. The audience thought a goal was coming when Lautaro Mancebo got free with Régis de Queirós in the 74th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Mexico's Dante Lacasa played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Iustin Bungeanu in the 81st minute of play. After 83rd play minutes Joel Gaona shot 3-1, a short shot which went by Régis de Queirós and just under the crossbar into goal. In the 87th minute, Lautaro Mancebo reached a very good position and smashed the ball with a huge effort into the net, just to the left of Régis de Queirós. The goal made the score 3-2. The crowd rose to their feet as Mexico's Joel Gaona slotted home a wonderful shot that went in to the left of Régis de Queirós. That made the score 3-3 after 90 minutes of play. Palmeiras succeeded in salvaging a draw, even though Mexico had controlled the match.