Challenge

Diamond Parck
Spectators: 40 (Terracing: 31, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Metod Mlynar got the match started through his kick off. A collision led to Slovakia getting a freekick after 3 minutes play. Stefan Havel hit a great ball. The throw-in from Druțu Pavel in the 6th minute of the game was unfortunally taken care of by Slovakia's Vavrinec Koleno. A throw-in in the 8th minute of the game was made by Druțu Pavel with Emil Cioran as target, who quickly passed the ball forward. With a little luck, Slovakia's Henrich Slany got control of the ball when Golo Gana tried to sneak it across the goal line. After 16 played minutes Club 23 got a freekick which was hit by Doru Ciuvică. In the 18th minute Metod Mlynar shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Sören Malmberg saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. 19 minutes into the match, Club 23's goal looked a bit too open when Metod Mlynar came free, but Sören Malmberg reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. The audience thought a goal was coming when Doru Ciuvică got free with Henrich Slany in the 21st minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Slovakia's Henrich Slany proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 27th minute of the match, managed to save Slovakia from getting a goal against them. Golo Gana's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Henrich Slany read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 28th minute of play. With his leg Henrich Slany managed to avoid a goal in the 30thth minute, when Club 23's Doru Ciuvică fired away a shot with a lot of spin towards his right hand side. In the 36th minute of the match Golo Gana sent off a long shot with destination to the right of the goalkeeper, but Henrich Slany skillfully saved the ball. In the 38th minute Doru Ciuvică shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Henrich Slany saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. After a rather tough play, Slovakia's Kornel Jahoda got a free kick in the 40th minute. After 46 minutes of play, Club 23's Doru Ciuvică made it 1-0 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Henrich Slany was left in no man's land by his defense there! 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.

After 52 played minutes Slovakia got a freekick which was hit by Oliver Holub. The audience thought a goal was coming when Metod Mlynar got free with Sören Malmberg in the 57th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. An unexpectedly hard shot by Paul Jucu in the 61st minute of play forced Slovakia's goalkeeper Henrich Slany to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 62nd minute, Stefan Havel hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. In the 64th minute, Golo Gana got an opportunity to score, but he didn't get a solid hit on the ball and ended up kicking it wide of the goal. Metod Mlynar received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 67th minute. Sören Malmberg tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. 70 minutes into the game, Emil Cioran threw the ball into play from the sideline. Slovakia's Zigmund Maliar quickly snatched the ball and retained possesion. After a defensive mix-up in Slovakia's zone, Doru Ciuvică stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Henrich Slany came out of the goal and Doru Ciuvică tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Club 23's Doru Ciuvică got a good chance for a goal in the 76th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. In the 80th match minute, Slovakia was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Pavol Koleno to maneuver through the defense. Paul Jucu sent away a hard shot on goal in the 81st minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After having played for 83 minutes, Doru Ciuvică managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Club 23's supporters crossed their fingers, but Doru Ciuvică was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. An unexpectedly hard shot by Doru Ciuvică in the 92nd minute of play forced Slovakia's goalkeeper Henrich Slany to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Emil Cioran fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 93rd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Henrich Slany having to interfere. Club 23 were really happy, having secured the victory after a very even contest. They thanked the players of Slovakia for a fine match.