Challenge

Aro Stadium
Spectators: 41 (Terracing: 32, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) Mexico's Joel Gaona started the match with a crisp pass. The crowd had been anticipating this game for weeks and the excitement in the stadium was easily visible. After a rather tough play, Aro FC's Sven-Arne Berglund got a free kick in the 2nd minute. When Yan Shi Jing fell near the penalty area in the 3rd minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Aro FC's protests and gave Yan Shi Jing a yellow card for diving instead. After 4 played minutes Aro FC got a freekick which was hit by Yan Shi Jing. 5 minutes into the match, Aro FC's goal looked a bit too open when Alberto Tafalla came free, but Harry Higuita reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Errikos Tsagaris's shot straight on target was not completely harmless. The ball had pretty good speed, but Dante Lacasa firmly grabbed it by the left post. Aro FC's Harry Higuita played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Alberto Tafalla in the 9th minute of play. Harry Higuita 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 12th minute. Aro FC's Harry Higuita played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Joel Gaona in the 14th minute of play. Nate Drakenborg had several of the Mexico's defenders around him in the penalty area when he, after 20 minutes of play, received a pass and succeeded in some way to shoot a shot which went straight ahead into goal. This resulted in a 1-0 score and a disappointed Dante Lacasa as he didn't even see the shot coming. The supporters of Mexico booed when Aro FC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 23 match minutes in a wonderful position. Lino Chago didn't get a good kick on the ball. 24 minutes into the match, Aro FC's goal looked a bit too open when Alberto Tafalla came free, but Harry Higuita reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Mexico's Dante Lacasa proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 30th minute of the match, managed to save Mexico from getting a goal against them. In the 36thth minute of the game Nate Drakenborg 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. 40 minutes into the match, Mexico's goalkeeper Dante Lacasa had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Nate Drakenborg. Sven-Arne Berglund hit a great freekick 42 minutes into the match. The supporters of Aro FC booed when Mexico was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 44 match minutes in a wonderful position. Felix Luque didn't get a good kick on the ball. Af the end of the first half the score was 1-0. The first half had gone as expected for the home team.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Nate Drakenborg to make the kick off. Dante Lacasa stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Nate Drakenborg's shot from short distance in the 53rd minute. The supporters of Mexico booed when Aro FC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 55 match minutes in a wonderful position. Lino Chago didn't get a good kick on the ball. Harry Higuita showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Alberto Tafalla, who was totally free with the ball in the 56th minute. Alberto Tafalla could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 56th minute of the match, but Harry Higuita made a huge save. In the 61st minute, Sune Svartengren 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 2-0. An unexpectedly hard shot by Joel Gaona in the 68th minute of play forced Aro FC's goalkeeper Harry Higuita to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. 73 minutes into the match, Mexico's goal looked a bit too open when Sune Svartengren came free, but Dante Lacasa reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 74th minute of the match Aro FC got a corner. Mexico's goalie ran out to the linesman to protest the call, but the linesman resolutely pointed his flag at the cornerflag. Errikos Tsagaris ran over to the corner to take the kick. The corner went over the outstretched arms of Mexico's goalie and right to Isac Muntian. He fired away a shot at goal, but the shot had too much spin, and it went just outside the goal. Mexico's manager breathed a sigh of relief on the sidelines as his team had managed to escape an almost certain goal. Alberto Tafalla struck a weak shot in the 79th minute. Harry Higuita didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Mexico. Mexico's players left the field with heads hung low after losing a match that had been finely balanced throughout.