Challenge

AA Arena
Spectators: 50 (Terracing: 38, Seating: 11, VIP seats: 1) Romania's Adam Olaru 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. An unexpectedly hard shot by Anoush Khalatbari in the 6th minute of play forced Romania's goalkeeper Carol Stinga to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 9th minute Adam Olaru shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Arvin Hökkvist saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Rasvan Cristescu hit a great freekick 14 minutes into the match. American Airlines's Arvin Hökkvist played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Adam Olaru in the 17th minute of play. The Romania fans' excitement grew in the 24th match minute when Romania's Rasvan Cristescu looked to have a clear shot with the ball near the goal. The shot wasn't hard, but the ball still rolled over the goal line to make it 0-2 before the goalkeeper had a chance to intervene. In the 28th minute Adam Olaru shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Arvin Hökkvist saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. American Airlines's Anoush Khalatbari was standing unmarked in front of the goal when he, in the 30th play minute, got the ball and easily drilled it into the goal. In the 33rd minute the ball was on its way in behind Romania's goalkeeper Carol Stinga, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. Carol Stinga showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Anoush Khalatbari in the 35th minute of the match. A collision led to Romania getting a freekick after 36 minutes play. Sanda Cutov hit a great ball. In the 40th minute, Fabio Cannata hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Alex Serban in the 43rd managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Arvin Hökkvist saved American Airlines from getting behind. After the first half Romania were leading 1-2. They had played with great self confidence throughout the first half and fully deserved their lead.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Anoush Khalatbari to strike the kick off in the second half. When Romania's Costica Vladimiri in the 50th minute got a chance for a shot 50th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye American Airlines's goalie prevented a goal. A hard shot 53 in the game by Costica Vladimiri from a close distance when the talented Arvin Hökkvist managed to make a qualified save. American Airlines's players were relieved. When American Airlines's Anoush Khalatbari in the 56th minute got a chance for a shot 56th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Romania's goalie prevented a goal. Costica Vladimiri could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 58th minute of the match, but Arvin Hökkvist made a huge save. When Romania's Costica Vladimiri in the 61st minute got a chance for a shot 61st didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye American Airlines's goalie prevented a goal. When the match had gone on for 61 minutes, Costica Vladimiri put it in 1-3 from a short distance just to the right of Arvin Hökkvist. Romania's Octavian Vaduva was substituted for Costica Vladimiri. Romania's Anton Stinga was substituted for Adam Olaru. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Gabriel Rossi during the 69th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. Romania's Alexandru Pangratiu was substituted for Alex Serban. American Airlines made a substitution. Lyuben Karavelov replaced Fabio Cannata. 68 minutes into the game, one of American Airlines:s players got tackled near the goal, and the referee blew for a penalty. In the 72ndth minute of the game Anton Stinga who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but American Airlines's Arvin Hökkvist was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. If Lyuben Karavelov had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 74th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. American Airlines made a substitution. Carlo Trujillo replaced Gabriel Rossi. Octavian Vaduva took the ball and in the 77 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Arvin Hökkvist. Arvin Hökkvist dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 1-4. When American Airlines's Jonah Ryan in the 83rd minute got a chance for a shot 83rd didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Romania's goalie prevented a goal. An unexpectedly hard shot by Jonah Ryan in the 87th minute of play forced Romania's goalkeeper Carol Stinga to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. American Airlines's Arvin Hökkvist proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 89th minute of the match, managed to save American Airlines from getting a goal against them. With his leg Arvin Hökkvist managed to avoid a goal in the 90thth minute, when Romania's Anton Stinga fired away a shot with a lot of spin towards his right hand side. Carol Stinga showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Anoush Khalatbari, who was totally free with the ball in the 95th minute. Romania played a much better game than American Airlines and deserved their victory. The American Airlines players were clearly disappointed as they left the ground.