Challenge

Estadio Azteca
Spectators: 47 (Terracing: 36, Seating: 11, VIP seats: 0) Joel Gaona struck a weak shot in the 4th minute. Kostas Kourmouzis didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Mexico. Kostas Kourmouzis made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Alberto Tafalla in the 8th minute of play. An unexpectedly hard shot by Achilleas Kanavatsos in the 9th minute of play forced Mexico's goalkeeper Dante Lacasa to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 9th match minute, Xarilaou FC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Themis Efthimidis to maneuver through the defense. 14 minutes into the match, Xarilaou FC's goalkeeper Kostas Kourmouzis had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Lautaro Mancebo. In the 18th minute of the match Fanis Skaltsas shot from a long distance. The ball could have gone into the goal to the right of the goalkeeper, but Dante Lacasa showed his good shape when he easily got hold of the ball. Dante Lacasa made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Thodoris Loubakis in the 23rd minute of play. In the 27th match minute, Xarilaou FC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Paolo Oliveiro to maneuver through the defense. Kostas Kourmouzis made a fantastic save in the 28th minute, when Luca Zorita sent off a good shot on target. The supporters of Mexico booed when Xarilaou FC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 29 match minutes in a wonderful position. Thodoris Loubakis didn't get a good kick on the ball. Kostas Kourmouzis showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Joel Gaona, who was totally free with the ball in the 30th minute. Mexico's Dante Lacasa played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Achilleas Kanavatsos in the 31st minute of play. Lautaro Mancebo succeeded to score despite a near miss that spronge from right pole into the goal to 1-0 in the 33rd playminute. Dante Lacasa showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Fanis Skaltsas in the 38th minute of the match. The audience was convinced that Thodoris Loubakis's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Dante Lacasa was relentless in the 38th minute of the game. 40 minutes had been played when some careless play by Mexico's defense caused the ball to cross the line for a corner. Fanis Skaltsas was slow to take the kick. During this time Xarilaou FC's players had a chance to rest. The corner ended in Stathis Kapelis almost managing to get the ball behind the net, but Mexico's Dante Lacasa did a great save. 41 minutes had been played when some careless play by Mexico's defense caused the ball to cross the line for a corner. Fanis Skaltsas was slow to take the kick. During this time Xarilaou FC's players had a chance to rest. Xarilaou FC's Fanis Skaltsas was first on the ball when the corner was shot and he dangerously headed the ball towards goal, but Dante Lacasa in the goal jumped up to prevent it from getting in. In a very dangerous position, a player in Mexico fell when an opponent tried to get the ball from him in the 43rd minute. Penalty! 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 Joel Gaona stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. Xarilaou FC's Kostas Kourmouzis played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Lautaro Mancebo in the 56th minute of play. Stathis Kapelis hit a great freekick 57 minutes into the match. If Alberto Tafalla had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 65th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. In the 65th minute Alberto Tafalla shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Kostas Kourmouzis saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. When Mexico's Lautaro Mancebo in the 67th minute got a chance for a shot 67th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Xarilaou FC's goalie prevented a goal. Joel Gaona recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 69th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. In the 71st 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. An unexpectedly hard shot by Alberto Tafalla in the 76th minute of play forced Xarilaou FC's goalkeeper Kostas Kourmouzis to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Mexico's Dante Lacasa proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 81st minute of the match, managed to save Mexico from getting a goal against them. Mexico's Dante Lacasa proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 82nd minute of the match, managed to save Mexico from getting a goal against them. Dante Lacasa took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Kostas Fasoulis, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. An unexpectedly hard shot by Kostas Fasoulis in the 87th 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 Lautaro Mancebo in the 91st minute of play forced Xarilaou FC's goalkeeper Kostas Kourmouzis to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Xarilaou FC made a substitution. Stratos Kabantais replaced Kostas Fasoulis.