Azadi Stadium
Spectators: 45 (Terracing: 35,
Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) In the 2nd match minute, Persepolis F.C. was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Ildefonso Harkaitz to maneuver through the defense. Mexico's Joel Gaona got a good chance for a goal in the 3rd minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Santos Perez made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Joel Gaona in the 6th minute of play. An unexpectedly hard shot by Alberto Tafalla in the 7th minute of play forced Persepolis F.C.'s goalkeeper Santos Perez to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Persepolis F.C.'s Santos Perez played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Lautaro Mancebo in the 9th minute of play. An unexpectedly hard shot by Lautaro Mancebo in the 11th minute of play forced Persepolis F.C.'s goalkeeper Santos Perez to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. 11 minutes into the match, Lautaro Mancebo had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Santos Perez. Persepolis F.C.'s manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Lautaro Mancebo was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 0-1. With a little luck, Mexico's Dante Lacasa got control of the ball when Léopold Castro tried to sneak it across the goal line. When the match had gone on for 14 minutes, Léopold Castro took a quick shot and it went in 1-1 without a chance for Dante Lacasa to make any attempt to save it. Santos Perez made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Joel Gaona in the 19th minute of play. When Danny Craig fell near the penalty area in the 19th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Persepolis F.C.'s protests and gave Danny Craig a yellow card for diving instead. Mexico made a substitution. Xavier Seco replaced Luca Zorita. Danny Craig kicked well hit freekick during the 21st minute of the match. In the 22nd minute Lautaro Mancebo shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Santos Perez saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. The supporters of Persepolis F.C. booed when Mexico was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 26 match minutes in a wonderful position. Xavier Seco didn't get a good kick on the ball. Lautaro Mancebo took the ball and in the 29 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Santos Perez. Santos Perez dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 1-2. In the 32nd match minute, Mexico was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Lorenzo Cazalla to maneuver through the defense. After some fancy dribbling in the 35th minute, Xavier Seco managed to get in a good position for a shot. Mexico's supporters rose to their feet, but Xavier Seco was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Santos Perez breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Joel Gaona in the 38th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Santos Perez saved Persepolis F.C. from getting behind. In the 40th minute, one of Persepolis F.C.:s players had the ball in front of the goal but got pushed and fell. The referee felt it was an obvious case and blew a penalty for Persepolis F.C.. In the 41st minute there was a penalty for Mexico. Joel Gaona stepped forward and shot the ball to the right of a diving Santos Perez. 1-3. When Felix Luque fell near the penalty area in the 44th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Mexico's protests and gave Felix Luque a yellow card for diving instead. In the 45th minute, Felix Luque hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Dante Lacasa took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Arden Poulin, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Dante Lacasa made an important save on a dangerous shot by Léopold Castro in the 46th minute. Through an outstanding action, after 47 minutes, Dante Lacasa successfully got his hands on the ball before it slid into the goal at the right post. The Persepolis F.C. players were disheartened as they walked off the pitch after the first half. Mexico were winning 1-3.
The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Léopold Castro was the one to do the kick off. In the 53rd minute Alberto Tafalla shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Santos Perez saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Santos Perez didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Joel Gaona went, in the 55th minute, to the upper right corner, 1-4 was the resulting score. Santos Perez was a little too slow when Lautaro Mancebo got a fine hit on the ball which went right into the goal in the 57th minute. The score was now 1-5. Léopold Castro received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 60th minute. Dante Lacasa tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Persepolis F.C. made a substitution. Andy Duff replaced Gwidon Seliga. Léopold Castro took the ball and in the 68 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Dante Lacasa. Dante Lacasa dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 2-5. The audience thought a goal was coming when Lautaro Mancebo got free with Santos Perez in the 72nd minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. When Joel Gaona got free in front of the goal in the 74th minute he wasn't very focused and chipped the ball just over the goal. Santos Perez was delighted since he was out of position and the ball would have got in if it had gone under the crossbar. An unexpectedly hard shot by Avery Merrill in the 79th minute of play forced Mexico's goalkeeper Dante Lacasa to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Santos Perez made a fantastic save in the 80th minute, when Lautaro Mancebo sent off a good shot on target. Avery Merrill fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 85th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Dante Lacasa having to interfere. Through an outstanding action, after 90 minutes, Santos Perez successfully got his hands on the ball before it slid into the goal at the right post. Felix Luque got his second yellow card in the match during the 93rd minute which meant that he had to leave the ground. In the 94th minute, Felix Luque hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Mexico's supporters were very happy and cheered loudly because their team had won after a very close match.
Change language
