Challenge

Estadio Azteca
Spectators: 44 (Terracing: 34, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when Betão Vargas kicked off to start the match. Lautaro Mancebo's shot straight on target was not completely harmless. The ball had pretty good speed, but Tony Chaves firmly grabbed it by the left post. Dante Lacasa made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Betão Vargas in the 11th minute of play. In the 16th minute, Caetano Félix hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. If Lautaro Mancebo had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 22nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. Tony Chaves showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Joel Gaona in the 23rd minute of the match. 24 minutes had been played when some careless play by SE Palestra Itália'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. A well-hit corner resulted in Luca Zorita heading the ball towards the goal, but to his dismay he misdirected it and missed the goal completely. After 32 minutes SE Palestra Itália's defender was forced to head the ball over the line for a corner. It was Joel Gaona who took care of the corner kick. Dante Lacasa made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Betão Vargas in the 34th minute of play. Lautaro Mancebo came free with the goalkeeper in the 35th minute of the match, and shot straight on target. The shot was a little too simple and Tony Chaves could save by the left post. 39 minutes had been played when some careless play by SE Palestra Itália'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. SE Palestra Itália's Edson Fernandes quite brazenly broke a throw-in by Leonardo Leoz, made in the 43rd minute of the game. Mexico's Dante Lacasa played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Clayton Sergi in the 44th minute of play. Dante Lacasa made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Clayton Sergi in the 44th minute of play. After some careless play in the Mexico defense, Clayton Sergi kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Dante Lacasa. The Mexico fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Dante Lacasa should have stopped the shot. Even after changing tactics the home team jogged off the field with a 0-2 deficit. They would have to work harder if they wanted to turn things around in the second half.

After a rather tough play, Mexico's Facundo Cadaval got a free kick in the 51st minute. After 52 played minutes SE Palestra Itália got a freekick which was hit by Clayton Sergi. Lautaro Mancebo blasted a shot towards the goal in the 55th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Tony Chaves having to make a save. Lautaro Mancebo fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 59th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Tony Chaves having to interfere. Dante Lacasa came out of the goal in the 65th minute to try and stop a shot by SE Palestra Itália's Richard Mendes. But to his dismay, Richard Mendes quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 0-3. Tony Chaves showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Lautaro Mancebo in the 69th minute of the match. The supporters of SE Palestra Itália booed when Mexico was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 73 match minutes in a wonderful position. Felix Luque didn't get a good kick on the ball. Dante Lacasa acted impressively in front of the goal and made a superb save when he, in the 73rd minute, took the ball on the long shot from Richard Mendes. 75 minutes into the match, Mexico's Joel Gaona sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Tony Chaves narrowly saved just below the crossbar. If Joel Gaona had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 78th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. When the match had gone on for 81 minutes, Alberto Tafalla put it in 1-3 from a short distance just to the right of Tony Chaves. After a rather tough play, Mexico's Facundo Cadaval got a free kick in the 85th minute. Alberto Tafalla recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 87th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Mexico's attentive Facundo Cadaval managed to snatch the ball when Betão Vargas made a throw-in in the 89th minute of the game. When the final whistle was heard the away supporters stood up and showed their joy. SE Palestra Itália had managed to secure a win in what was a close match throughout.