Challenge

Estadio Azteca
Spectators: 49 (Terracing: 38, Seating: 11, VIP seats: 0) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Joel Gaona started the match with the kick off. Fernando Selatse showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Joel Gaona in the 5th minute of the match. 6 minutes had been played when some careless play by Despidida AFC'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. 8 minutes into the match, Despidida AFC's goalkeeper Fernando Selatse had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Alberto Tafalla. In the 10th minute Dinu Ivănescu shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Dante Lacasa saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 11th minute, Joel Gaona ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Fernando Selatse was frozen by the shot and now it was 1-0. Dante Lacasa made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Dinu Ivănescu in the 13th minute of play. An unexpectedly hard shot by Alberto Tafalla in the 16th minute of play forced Despidida AFC's goalkeeper Fernando Selatse to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Cain Velasquez lost his temper 18 minutes into the game and shoved another player to the ground. He was immediately shown a red card. Oliver Rizzo made a great header on Despidida AFC's corner, it was just that Mexico's Dante Lacasa managed to reach the ball for a save. Dante Lacasa took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Emiliano Velasco, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 34th minute, Joel Gaona reached a very good position and smashed the ball with a huge effort into the net, just to the left of Fernando Selatse. The goal made the score 2-0. The audience thought a goal was coming when Lautaro Mancebo got free with Fernando Selatse in the 37th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. After a rather tough play, Mexico's Alberto Tafalla got a free kick in the 41st minute. Dante Lacasa showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Pastor Tino in the 42nd minute of the match. After 42 played minutes Despidida AFC got a freekick which was hit by Justino Elequemedo. Despidida AFC's Fernando Selatse played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Joel Gaona in the 44th minute of play. When the referee blew for the end of the half the home team players were clearly happier, as they went in to the break leading 2-0.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Emiliano Velasco stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. In the 52nd minute, Mexico's goalie took a deep sigh of relief after Pastor Tino fired away a hard shot that went just outside the left post. When Mexico's Lautaro Mancebo in the 54th minute got a chance for a shot 54th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Despidida AFC's goalie prevented a goal. Mexico's Dante Lacasa played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Emanuel Lucila in the 56th minute of play. 58 minutes into the match, Joel Gaona notched a goal, 3-0, to the right of Despidida AFC's Fernando Selatse. Fernando Selatse was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. Mexico's defense didn't have a chance, in the 60th minute, when Emiliano Velasco scored to the left of an out of position Dante Lacasa, making the score, 3-1. The audience thought a goal was coming when Pastor Tino got free with Dante Lacasa in the 65th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Despidida AFC made a substitution. Toro Martínez replaced Emiliano Velasco. Despidida AFC's Ancho Branca was substituted for Dinu Ivănescu. Despidida AFC made a substitution. Kajetan Gdowik replaced Pastor Tino. After 69 played minutes Mexico got a freekick which was hit by Joel Gaona. 73 minutes into the match, Despidida AFC's goal looked a bit too open when Joel Gaona came free, but Fernando Selatse reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 74th minute of the match Mexico got a corner. Despidida AFC'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. At last the ball reached Alberto Tafalla at the corner, ending with a kick to difficult to stop for the goalkeeper of Despidida AFC. 4-1. Dante Lacasa made a fantastic save in the 79th minute, when Kajetan Gdowik sent off a good shot on target. Joel Gaona might have been able to make a better finish in the 88th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Fernando Selatse. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Joel Gaona ran back to his position shaking his head. Mexico were really happy, having secured the victory after a very even contest. They thanked the players of Despidida AFC for a fine match.