Challenge

Arena Denver
Spectators: 40 (Terracing: 31, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) The mood of the audience was pleasant when Toni Mauzer made the kick off which started today's match. The crowd rose to their feet as Nilmar Freitas kicked a wonderful shot that went in to the left of a diving Ilija Skugor. That made the score 1-0 in the 5 minute of play. In the 10th match minute, DENVER™ was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Joel Lima to maneuver through the defense. Ilija Skugor took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Nilmar Freitas, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. If Alfredo Rezende had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 14th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Conrado Paraibano could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 16th minute of the match, but Ilija Skugor made a huge save. 31 minutes into the match, Cleithon Minuhin dribbled the ball past the defender and swiftly kicked the ball to the left of Ilija Skugor, 3-0. Damir Pongrac hit a great freekick 34 minutes into the match. A hard shot by Alfredo Rezende from long distance, 34 minutes into the match, got Ilija Skugor's attention. Through a fast twist with his body, he could stop the ball from going in on his right side. Ilija Skugor made an important save on a dangerous shot by Nilmar Freitas in the 36th minute. Ilija Skugor didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Nilmar Freitas went, in the 38th minute, to the upper right corner, 4-0 was the resulting score. In the 42nd minute Cleithon Minuhin 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. Dinko Stankovic struck a weak shot in the 43rd minute. Nico Furlan didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Croatia. After 46 played minutes Croatia got a freekick which was hit by Dinko Stankovic. An unexpectedly hard shot by Cleithon Minuhin in the 47th minute of play forced Croatia's goalkeeper Ilija Skugor to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Cleithon Minuhin made a kick off. When Damir Pongrac fell near the penalty area in the 60th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Croatia's protests and gave Damir Pongrac a yellow card for diving instead. The supporters of DENVER™ booed when Croatia was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 60 match minutes in a wonderful position. Damir Pongrac didn't get a good kick on the ball. 62 minutes into the game, Diguinho Vargas 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. Ilija Skugor showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Cleithon Minuhin in the 65th minute of the match. Ilija Skugor came out of the goal in the 67th minute to try and stop a shot by DENVER™'s Cleithon Minuhin. But to his dismay, Cleithon Minuhin quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 7-0. After a rather tough play, Croatia's Damir Pongrac got a free kick in the 70th minute. The supporters of DENVER™ booed when Croatia was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 71 match minutes in a wonderful position. Damir Pongrac didn't get a good kick on the ball. 72 minutes into the match, Nilmar Freitas 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 Nilmar Freitas was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 8-0. In the 80th minute, Guilherme Abud ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Ilija Skugor was frozen by the shot and now it was 9-0. An unexpectedly hard shot by Guilherme Abud in the 85th minute of play forced Croatia's goalkeeper Ilija Skugor to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Dinko Stankovic charged in rather forcefully in the 86th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Dinko Stankovic the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. After 86 played minutes Croatia got a freekick which was hit by Dinko Stankovic. In the 87th minute Nilmar Freitas 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. In the 89th minute Guilherme Abud 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. After some careless play in the Croatia defense, Guilherme Abud 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. When the referee ended the match the DENVER™ players were able to celebrate. They had won a fair victory and recieved the ovations of their fans.