Challenge

Estadio Azteca
Spectators: 45 (Terracing: 35, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Joel Gaona took the kick off in the first half of the match. Marcos Basso made a fantastic save in the 7th minute, when Lautaro Mancebo sent off a good shot on target. Alberto Tafalla received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 12th minute. Marcos Basso tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Marcos Basso made a fantastic save in the 15th minute, when Alberto Tafalla sent off a good shot on target. Mexico's attacker deliberately struck the ball against an opponent to win a corner for his team. The corner was taken by Joel Gaona in the 16th minute. 18 minutes into the game, Mexico's Alberto Tafalla nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Marcos Basso made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 1-0. Joel Gaona blasted a shot towards the goal in the 21st minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Marcos Basso having to make a save. An unexpectedly hard shot by Niklas Lundqvist in the 24th 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 Joel Gaona in the 30th minute of play forced The Shadows's goalkeeper Marcos Basso to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. The supporters of Mexico booed when The Shadows was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 33 match minutes in a wonderful position. David Silva didn't get a good kick on the ball. In the 34th minute, Lautaro Mancebo got an opportunity to score, but he didn't get a solid hit on the ball and ended up kicking it wide of the goal. Dante Lacasa made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Bastian Von Axelson in the 37th minute of play. In the 39th minute of the match The Shadows got a corner. Mexico's goalie ran out to the linesman to protest the call, but the linesman resolutely pointed his flag at the cornerflag. Ni Zhen Ying ran over to the corner to take the kick. 41 minutes into the match, The Shadows's goal looked a bit too open when Joel Gaona came free, but Marcos Basso reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. If Lautaro Mancebo had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 44th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 45th minute, Gelu Plopșor hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. It was beautiful to see Mexico's Joel Gaona in action when he in the 47th minute dribbled his way through a couple of opponents and the fired away a shot from almost standing still. First the ball seemed to get in, but turned out to be on the outside of the net. A great chance! All the noise was coming from the home fans when the whistle went for half-time. The home team had fought hardest to put themselves in a deserved lead.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Niklas Lundqvist to strike the kick off in the second half. After some careless play in the The Shadows defense, Joel Gaona kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Marcos Basso. The The Shadows fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Marcos Basso should have stopped the shot. Dante Lacasa came out of the goal in the 56th minute to try and stop a shot by The Shadows's Niklas Lundqvist. But to his dismay, Niklas Lundqvist quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 3-1. 59 minutes into the match, Mexico's goal looked a bit too open when Herbert Holmgren came free, but Dante Lacasa reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. The Shadows were awarded a corner in the 60th minute after Mexico's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Ni Zhen Ying took the corner. 63 minutes into the game, Herbert Holmgren cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 3-2. Dante Lacasa was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. Marcos Basso made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Lautaro Mancebo in the 65th minute of play. After a defensive mix-up in The Shadows's zone, Lautaro Mancebo stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Marcos Basso 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. The Shadows made a substitution. Slawomir Cisek replaced Berndt Edelweiss. The Shadows's Pawel Gibowski was substituted for Bo á Bø. Marcos Basso made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Alberto Tafalla in the 71st minute of play. Alberto Tafalla hit a great freekick 77 minutes into the match. After 79 played minutes The Shadows got a freekick which was hit by Slawomir Cisek. Marcos Basso made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Joel Gaona in the 82nd minute of play. In the 83rd minute of the match, Bastian Von Axelson 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 84th minute, Joel Gaona ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Marcos Basso was frozen by the shot and now it was 4-2. 87 minutes into the match, The Shadows's goal looked a bit too open when Lautaro Mancebo came free, but Marcos Basso reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Lautaro Mancebo sent away a hard shot on goal in the 89th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Dante Lacasa showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Niklas Lundqvist, who was totally free with the ball in the 93rd minute. Dante Lacasa made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Herbert Holmgren in the 95th minute of play.