Challenge

Gazprom Arena
Spectators: 40 (Terracing: 31, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Mariano Lacasa got the match started through his kick off. The supporters of FC Zenit Saint Petersburg booed when Chile was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 3 match minutes in a wonderful position. Francisco Carballar didn't get a good kick on the ball. Thanks to some nice moves Håkan Kjellman could shoot a difficult shot in the 4th minute, which Thiago Pliego however easily saved by the left post. In the 8th minute Mariano Lacasa shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Zafer Hürsel saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Zafer Hürsel made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Mariano Lacasa in the 14th minute of play. After 15 played minutes Chile got a freekick which was hit by Francisco Carballar. Thiago Pliego took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Emanuel Emander, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Thiago Pliego took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Emanuel Emander, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Mariano Lacasa might have been able to make a better finish in the 24th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Zafer Hürsel. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Mariano Lacasa ran back to his position shaking his head. Zafer Hürsel showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Mariano Lacasa in the 24th minute of the match. In the 25th minute the ball was on its way in behind FC Zenit Saint Petersburg's goalkeeper Zafer Hürsel, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. With a little luck, Chile's Thiago Pliego got control of the ball when Håkan Kjellman tried to sneak it across the goal line. 31 minutes into the match, Chile's Mariano Lacasa sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Zafer Hürsel narrowly saved just below the crossbar. 34 minutes into the match, Chile's goalkeeper Thiago Pliego had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Håkan Kjellman. In the 36th minute, Håkan Kjellman ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Thiago Pliego was frozen by the shot and now it was 1-0. In the 40th minute Peter Snell shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Thiago Pliego saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 43rd minute, Mariano Lacasa 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. Arvid Gallin hit a great freekick 46 minutes into the match. The home fans were very happy to see their team leading 1-0 at half-time.

With a little luck, FC Zenit Saint Petersburg's Zafer Hürsel got control of the ball when Mariano Lacasa tried to sneak it across the goal line. In the 53rd minute Håkan Kjellman shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Thiago Pliego saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 60th minute Emanuel Emander shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Thiago Pliego saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. An unexpectedly hard shot by Håkan Kjellman in the 63rd minute of play forced Chile's goalkeeper Thiago Pliego to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. The audience thought a goal was coming when Mariano Lacasa got free with Zafer Hürsel in the 65th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. 77 minutes into the match, Chile's goal looked a bit too open when Emanuel Emander came free, but Thiago Pliego reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Thiago Pliego stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Emanuel Emander's shot from short distance in the 78th minute. 83 minutes into the match, FC Zenit Saint Petersburg's goalkeeper Zafer Hürsel had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Mariano Lacasa. Zafer Hürsel made an important save on a dangerous shot by Mariano Lacasa in the 85th minute. Emanuel Emander fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 90th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Thiago Pliego having to interfere. FC Zenit Saint Petersburg's Gabriel Söderström was substituted for Jörgen Ekeroth. FC Zenit Saint Petersburg made a substitution. Valentin Ivarsson replaced Emanuel Emander. A collision led to FC Zenit Saint Petersburg getting a freekick after 93 minutes play. Herbert Björnberg hit a great ball. Mariano Lacasa struck a weak shot in the 94th minute. Zafer Hürsel didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Chile. For all the effort they put into the match, the Chile players left disappointed. They had fought hard, but couldn't break down the home team's defense. The match ended in a win for FC Zenit Saint Petersburg.