Challenge

Estadio Azteca
Spectators: 45 (Terracing: 35, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Joel Gaona got the match started through his kick off. Dante Lacasa took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Noel Abraham, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. The audience was convinced that Noel Abraham's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Dante Lacasa was relentless in the 6th minute of the game. Lautaro Mancebo's shot straight on target was not completely harmless. The ball had pretty good speed, but Epifanio Iratzeder firmly grabbed it by the left post. The crowd rose to their feet as Mexico's Lautaro Mancebo slotted home a wonderful shot that went in to the left of Epifanio Iratzeder. That made the score 1-0 after 9 minutes of play. Lautaro Mancebo's shot straight on target was not completely harmless. The ball had pretty good speed, but Epifanio Iratzeder firmly grabbed it by the left post. Epifanio Iratzeder made an important save on a dangerous shot by Lautaro Mancebo in the 16th minute. In the 20th minute of the match, Lautaro Mancebo got a very nice opportunity to score, but Epifanio Iratzeder was well-placed and pushed the ball away from the goal at the left post. In the 22ndth minute of the game Noel Abraham who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Mexico's Dante Lacasa was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. Alberto Tafalla received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 24th minute. Epifanio Iratzeder tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. 26 minutes into the match, Lautaro Mancebo had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Epifanio Iratzeder. Artetas artilleri's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Lautaro Mancebo was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 2-0. Epifanio Iratzeder made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Joel Gaona in the 33rd minute of play. After a rather tough play, Artetas artilleri's Leon Russel got a free kick in the 35th minute. Epifanio Iratzeder 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 36th minute. Joel Gaona sent away a hard shot on goal in the 38th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. In the 39th match minute, Mexico was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Alberto Tafalla to maneuver through the defense. Valter Siöman struck a weak shot in the 41st minute. Dante Lacasa didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Artetas artilleri. A collision led to Mexico getting a freekick after 45 minutes play. Lorenzo Cazalla hit a great ball. 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 players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Noel Abraham stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. Brian Jones charged in rather forcefully in the 52nd minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Brian Jones the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. After 52 played minutes Artetas artilleri got a freekick which was hit by Brian Jones. 54 minutes into the match, Artetas artilleri's goal looked a bit too open when Alberto Tafalla came free, but Epifanio Iratzeder reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After 54 minutes, Diego Ronconi mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Artetas artilleri and the Mexico players grew even worse after the yellow card. The supporters of Mexico booed when Artetas artilleri was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 55 match minutes in a wonderful position. Diego Ronconi didn't get a good kick on the ball. After a rather tough play, Mexico's Lautaro Mancebo got a free kick in the 59th minute. 63 minutes into the match, Mexico's goal looked a bit too open when Joakim Brandin came free, but Dante Lacasa reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Luca Rouco hit a great freekick 64 minutes into the match. 67 minutes into the match, Mexico's Lautaro Mancebo sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Epifanio Iratzeder narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Artetas artilleri's Epifanio Iratzeder played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Lautaro Mancebo in the 69th minute of play. Alberto Tafalla's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Epifanio Iratzeder read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 69th minute of play. Artetas artilleri's Gabriel Martinelli was substituted for Brian Jones. 75 minutes had been played when some careless play by Artetas artilleri's defense caused the ball to cross the line for a corner. Joel Gaona was slow to take the kick. During this time Mexico's players had a chance to rest. The corner went over the outstretched arms of Artetas artilleri's goalie and right to Luca Zorita. He fired away a shot at goal, but the shot had too much spin, and it went just outside the goal. Artetas artilleri's manager breathed a sigh of relief on the sidelines as his team had managed to escape an almost certain goal. Joel Gaona's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Epifanio Iratzeder read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 78th minute of play. After 85 played minutes Artetas artilleri got a freekick which was hit by Diego Ronconi. Epifanio Iratzeder showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Lautaro Mancebo in the 87th minute of the match. Lautaro Mancebo received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 88th minute. Epifanio Iratzeder tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Epifanio Iratzeder came out of the goal in the 91st minute to try and stop a shot by Mexico's Luca Zorita. But to his dismay, Luca Zorita quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 3-0. Facundo Cadaval hit a great freekick 94 minutes into the match.