Challenge

Maracaná
Spectators: 39 (Terracing: 30, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) The mood of the audience was pleasant when Toni Mauzer made the kick off which started today's match. Ilija Skugor made an important save on a dangerous shot by Niceto Ascencio in the 3rd minute. 5 minutes into the match, Niceto Ascencio dribbled the ball past the defender and swiftly kicked the ball to the left of Ilija Skugor, 1-0. Toni Mauzer struck a weak shot in the 9th minute. Veniamin Tsakouridis didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Croatia. Ilija Skugor made a fantastic save in the 11th minute, when Niceto Ascencio sent off a good shot on target. The audience thought a goal was coming when Severiano Larpe got free with Ilija Skugor in the 12th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Toni Mauzer hit a great freekick 13 minutes into the match. In the 18th minute Severiano Larpe shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Ilija Skugor saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Ilija Skugor didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Niceto Ascencio went, in the 20th minute, to the upper right corner, 3-0 was the resulting score. In the 23rd match minute, Croatia was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Martin Bosak to maneuver through the defense. Niceto Ascencio fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 25th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Ilija Skugor having to interfere. Toni Mauzer struck a weak shot in the 27th minute. Veniamin Tsakouridis didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Croatia. After 28 played minutes El Fla got a freekick which was hit by Marco Rufo. Croatia's Ilija Skugor proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 31st minute of the match, managed to save Croatia from getting a goal against them. In the 32nd minute, El Fla's Severiano Larpe ran free of his marker and smoothly shot the ball into the goal behind Ilija Skugor. Ilija Skugor yelled at his defense, as they had left him out to dry. 4-0. Ilija Skugor was a little too slow when Marco Rufo got a fine hit on the ball which went right into the goal in the 35th minute. The score was now 5-0. Ilija Skugor showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Marco Rufo, who was totally free with the ball in the 37th minute. 42 minutes into the game, Saverio Ferdinand cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 6-0. Ilija Skugor was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. Niceto Ascencio could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 46th minute of the match, but Ilija Skugor made a huge save. All the noise was coming from the home fans when the whistle went for half-time. The home team had fought hardest to put themselves in a deserved lead.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Niceto Ascencio to make the kick off. Saverio Ferdinand recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 52nd minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. After a rather tough play, El Fla's Santiago Piarres got a free kick in the 55th minute. 56 minutes into the match, Niceto Ascencio notched a goal, 7-0, to the right of Croatia's Ilija Skugor. Ilija Skugor was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. 60 minutes into the game, Niceto Ascencio cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 8-0. Ilija Skugor was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. 63 minutes into the match, Croatia's goal looked a bit too open when Niceto Ascencio came free, but Ilija Skugor reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. 64 minutes into the match, Saverio Ferdinand had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Ilija Skugor. Croatia's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Saverio Ferdinand was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 9-0. An unexpectedly hard shot by Niceto Ascencio in the 67th minute of play forced Croatia's goalkeeper Ilija Skugor to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Eduard Kostelac's late challenge caught a El Fla's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Eduard Kostelac helped the player get up and apologised. The audience was convinced that Saverio Ferdinand's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Ilija Skugor was relentless in the 71st minute of the game. 72 minutes into the game, El Fla's Hilario Gervaso nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Ilija Skugor made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 10-0. Ilija Skugor made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Severiano Larpe in the 76th minute of play. Saverio Ferdinand received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 77th minute. Ilija Skugor tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Ilija Skugor showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Niceto Ascencio, who was totally free with the ball in the 80th minute. Saverio Ferdinand took the ball and in the 82 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Ilija Skugor. Ilija Skugor dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 11-0. 85 minutes into the match, Marco Rufo had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Ilija Skugor. Croatia's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Marco Rufo was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 12-0. Ilija Skugor showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Niceto Ascencio, who was totally free with the ball in the 89th minute. After some careless play in the Croatia defense, Severiano Larpe kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Ilija Skugor. The Croatia fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Ilija Skugor should have stopped the shot. El Fla walked away with a well-earned victory that was much celebrated by the crowd.