Challenge

Akçay ArenA
Spectators: 41 (Terracing: 32, Seating: 9, 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. 11 minutes into the match, Mexico's goal looked a bit too open when Cumali Neşat came free, but Dante Lacasa reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. The audience was convinced that Cumali Neşat's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Dante Lacasa was relentless in the 17th minute of the game. With a little luck, Mexico's Dante Lacasa got control of the ball when Cumali Neşat tried to sneak it across the goal line. Lautaro Mancebo received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 30th minute. Bora Hazer tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. A K Ç A Y ✔ 37 SK's Ergincan Özdal quite brazenly broke a throw-in by Leonardo Leoz, made in the 32nd minute of the game. Cumali Neşat received a nice pass, split the defenders, and ran untouched towards the goal. Dante Lacasa came out and tried to block the shot, but Cumali Neşat slotted it home off the left post making it 1-0 in the 35th minute. After a defensive mix-up in Mexico's zone, Cumali Neşat stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Dante Lacasa came out of the goal and Cumali Neşat tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. An unexpectedly hard shot by Lautaro Mancebo in the 40th minute of play forced A K Ç A Y ✔ 37 SK's goalkeeper Bora Hazer to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. After 41 played minutes A K Ç A Y ✔ 37 SK got a freekick which was hit by Alfredo Jerano. 42 minutes into the game, Joel Gaona cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 1-1. Bora Hazer was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. The fans had the chance to grab some refreshments as the whistle went for half-time. The score stood at 1-1 after a close first half.

The wind increased when Cumali Neşat made the kick off in the second half. 51 minutes into the match, Cumali Neşat had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Dante Lacasa. Mexico's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Cumali Neşat was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 2-1. In the 53rd minute, Leonardo Leoz hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Alberto Tafalla took the ball and in the 62 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Bora Hazer. Bora Hazer dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 2-2. Joel Gaona was really disappointed when he shot the ball just outside the right post instead of scoring a goal in the 64th minute. Mexico's manager could be seen on the sidelines shaking his head and muttering to himself as his team had just wasted another chance. An unexpectedly hard shot by Baran Alp Barın in the 67th minute of play forced Mexico's goalkeeper Dante Lacasa to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Lautaro Mancebo could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 69th minute of the match, but Bora Hazer made a huge save. In the 70thth minute of the game Cumali Neşat who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Mexico's Dante Lacasa was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. In the 73rd minute, Alfredo Jerano left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The A K Ç A Y ✔ 37 SK fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 3-2. Mexico's Dante Lacasa played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Cumali Neşat in the 83rd minute of play. 84 minutes into the match, Cumali Neşat had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Dante Lacasa. Mexico's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Cumali Neşat was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 4-2. In the 92nd minute, Cumali Neşat ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Dante Lacasa was frozen by the shot and now it was 5-2. Mexico's supporters were dissatisfied at the end of the match because A K Ç A Y ✔ 37 SK had won, even though Mexico had held more of the ball.