Football 4 All

Club America and Inter kicked off the 2009 World Football Challenge with an entertaining match, in front of a strong crowd of over 30,000 fans. The result after 90 minutes was deadlocked at 1-1, meaning that penalties were required to separate the two sides on the night.The intense shoot-out ended in favour of the Mexican club 5-4, meaning that an extremely strong Nerazzurri line-up suffered yet another shock result, after their 2-2 draw with UCLA a few days prior.

The Italians were the stronger side in the early stages, especially through Sulley Muntari, a player who was keen to continue his impressive form this pre-season. It was he who was responsible for sending in the perfect cross for the new signing Diego Miltio, which was hit just wide of the target after two minutes of play.Ricardo Quaresma and Dejan Stankovic were causing havoc in the middle, whilst another new signing in Thiago Motta went close to opening his side’s account with a powerful drive from 30 yards on the half hour mark.From this point though the Mexicans worked themselves into the contest, as they struck the woodwork twice in the next ten minutes, to send a wave of shock through the Inter camp, however they failed to take full advantage of this, as the half ended 0-0.Jose Mourinho made a number of changes prior to the commencement of the second period, as Patrick Vieira and Nicolas Burdisso were amongst those who came on in the early stages of the half.

Despite this though, Club America took a shock lead on 51 minutes, when Pardo’s corner was met by Silva, and his left-foot drive was coolly smashed into the back of the net.Inter did all they could to immediately respond, as Mario Balotelli’s shot from distance just moments later, and Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s inclusion into the match, clearly signified their intentions to win the game. This switch eventually paid off, as on 60 minutes Cordoba levelled the score line with a header from a Balotelli corner, which was won by a determined Ibrahimovic.

America had a player sent off in the closing stages, as Esqueda was sent for an early shower following some rough and late contact on the opposing keeper Belec, whilst the referee’s whistle after 90 minutes meant that penalties were required to separate the two clubs.The shoot-out started positively for both sides, as the first six penalties were successfully converted by all of those who stepped up to take a shot. The seventh, taken by Patrick Vieira, was smashed over the crossbar, which eventually allowed Rojas to send home the winning kick from the spot, to give Club America a memorable victory.