Challenge

Johan Cruyff Arena
Spectators: 40 (Terracing: 31, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Tonton Eren started the match with the kick off. Mexico's Dante Lacasa played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Wojtek Sokol in the 6th minute of play. 7 minutes into the match, Mexico's Alberto Tafalla sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Gigi Buffon narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Facundo Cadaval hit a great freekick 8 minutes into the match. A collision led to Mexico getting a freekick after 9 minutes play. Felix Luque hit a great ball. Dante Lacasa made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Klement Bryk in the 10th minute of play. When Tonton Eren came up free with the goalie in the 19th minute, the Ajax 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 Tonton Eren couldn't finish the play. Ajax's Gigi Buffon played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Joel Gaona in the 20th minute of play. In the 21st minute Mexico were awarded a corner. Joel Gaona went to the cornerflag to take it. Dante Lacasa showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Tonton Eren, who was totally free with the ball in the 28th minute. In the 31st minute Alberto Tafalla shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Gigi Buffon saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Felix Luque during the 32nd minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. An unexpectedly hard shot by Lautaro Mancebo in the 34th minute of play forced Ajax's goalkeeper Gigi Buffon to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. With a little luck, Mexico's Dante Lacasa got control of the ball when Tonton Eren tried to sneak it across the goal line. Wojtek Sokol fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 37th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Dante Lacasa having to interfere. Gigi Buffon stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Alberto Tafalla's shot from short distance in the 41st minute. Through an outstanding action, after 43 minutes, Dante Lacasa successfully got his hands on the ball before it slid into the goal at the right post. In the 44th minute, Klement Bryk hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Dante Lacasa made a fantastic save in the 48th minute, when Klement Bryk sent off a good shot on target. 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.

The supporters of Mexico booed when Ajax was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 51 match minutes in a wonderful position. Danilo Maurino didn't get a good kick on the ball. Arturo Palladino hit a great freekick 55 minutes into the match. Mexico's Facundo Cadaval got a good chance for a goal in the 57th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. After a defensive mix-up in Mexico's zone, Klement Bryk stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Dante Lacasa came out of the goal and Klement Bryk tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Gigi Buffon made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Joel Gaona in the 64th minute of play. Dante Lacasa made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Tonton Eren in the 66th minute of play. Gigi Buffon took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Alberto Tafalla, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 78th minute of the match Mexico got a corner. Ajax'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. 80 minutes into the game, Mexico's Lautaro Mancebo nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Gigi Buffon made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 0-1. Dante Lacasa showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Tonton Eren, who was totally free with the ball in the 84th minute. After 86 minutes of play, Ajax's Wojtek Sokol made it 1-1 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! Ajax's Remigiusz Galaska was substituted for Klement Bryk. Ajax made a substitution. Jacek Kieca replaced Wojtek Sokol. 94 minutes into the match, Ajax's goal looked a bit too open when Joel Gaona came free, but Gigi Buffon reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Neither set of supporters seemed pleased with the draw, but both teams had played equally well today.