Challenge

ANAHEIM CENTER
Spectators: 41 (Terracing: 32, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) In the 4th minute Damion Stride 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. When Len Ainsworth fell near the penalty area in the 5th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored ᗩᑎᗩᕼᗴᎥᗰ ᗪᑌᑕᛕᔕ's protests and gave Len Ainsworth a yellow card for diving instead. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Brandon Parrott during the 6th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. The supporters of Croatia booed when ᗩᑎᗩᕼᗴᎥᗰ ᗪᑌᑕᛕᔕ was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 6 match minutes in a wonderful position. Brandon Parrott didn't get a good kick on the ball. Jason Lobb showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Toni Mauzer in the 9th minute of the match. In the 11th minute, Damir Pongrac hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. 12 minutes into the game, Neven Culina was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Croatia's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave ᗩᑎᗩᕼᗴᎥᗰ ᗪᑌᑕᛕᔕ the free kick. After 12 played minutes Croatia got a freekick which was hit by Neven Culina. After a rather tough play, Croatia's Benjamin Domazet got a free kick in the 14th minute. 18 minutes into the match, Croatia's goal looked a bit too open when Dom Kyle came free, but Ilija Skugor reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Ilija Skugor showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Darren Metcalf, who was totally free with the ball in the 19th minute. A collision led to Croatia getting a freekick after 20 minutes play. Eduard Kostelac hit a great ball. Gerry Bibby could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 21st minute of the match, but Ilija Skugor made a huge save. The audience thought a goal was coming when Vincent Dry got free with Ilija Skugor in the 24th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Ilija Skugor made an important save on a dangerous shot by Vincent Dry in the 25th minute. 26 minutes into the match, Croatia's goalkeeper Ilija Skugor had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Gerry Bibby. A collision led to ᗩᑎᗩᕼᗴᎥᗰ ᗪᑌᑕᛕᔕ getting a freekick after 28 minutes play. Damion Stride hit a great ball. 29 minutes into the match, Croatia's Toni Mauzer sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Jason Lobb narrowly saved just below the crossbar. 31 minutes into the match, ᗩᑎᗩᕼᗴᎥᗰ ᗪᑌᑕᛕᔕ's Vincent Dry sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Ilija Skugor narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Vincent Dry received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 35th minute. Ilija Skugor tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. In the 39th minute, ᗩᑎᗩᕼᗴᎥᗰ ᗪᑌᑕᛕᔕ's Darren Metcalf dribbled the ball into the box and hit a shot with the outside of his foot, sending the keeper the wrong way. 1-0. Dom Kyle charged in rather forcefully in the 42nd minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Dom Kyle the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. After a rather tough play, ᗩᑎᗩᕼᗴᎥᗰ ᗪᑌᑕᛕᔕ's Dom Kyle got a free kick in the 42nd minute. An unexpectedly hard shot by Gerry Bibby in the 46th minute of play forced Croatia's goalkeeper Ilija Skugor to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. The home fans were very happy to see their team leading 1-0 at half-time.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Gerry Bibby stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. Vincent Dry sent away a hard shot on goal in the 53rd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. In the 55th match minute, ᗩᑎᗩᕼᗴᎥᗰ ᗪᑌᑕᛕᔕ was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Gerry Bibby to maneuver through the defense. 57 minutes into the match, ᗩᑎᗩᕼᗴᎥᗰ ᗪᑌᑕᛕᔕ's goalkeeper Jason Lobb had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Toni Mauzer. 58 minutes into the match, Croatia's goal looked a bit too open when Gerry Bibby came free, but Ilija Skugor reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Ilija Skugor took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Darren Metcalf, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Gerry Bibby might have been able to make a better finish in the 67th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Ilija Skugor. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Gerry Bibby ran back to his position shaking his head. If Gerry Bibby had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 69th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. A collision led to ᗩᑎᗩᕼᗴᎥᗰ ᗪᑌᑕᛕᔕ getting a freekick after 72 minutes play. Wally Scorfield hit a great ball. Dom Kyle blasted a shot towards the goal in the 80th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Ilija Skugor having to make a save. An unexpectedly hard shot by Gerry Bibby in the 82nd minute of play forced Croatia's goalkeeper Ilija Skugor to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Ilija Skugor stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Owen Bishop's shot from short distance in the 84th minute. Damir Pongrac's late challenge caught a ᗩᑎᗩᕼᗴᎥᗰ ᗪᑌᑕᛕᔕ's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Damir Pongrac helped the player get up and apologised. In the 85th match minute, Croatia was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Damir Pongrac to maneuver through the defense. Dinko Stankovic could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 90th minute of the match, but Jason Lobb made a huge save. An unexpectedly hard shot by Gerry Bibby in the 93rd minute of play forced Croatia's goalkeeper Ilija Skugor to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. There were very few away supporters still in the ground by the end of the match. Most of them had left early, disgusted by the way their team had been torn apart. ᗩᑎᗩᕼᗴᎥᗰ ᗪᑌᑕᛕᔕ fully deserved thier win.