Challenge

Arena Rockets
Spectators: 40 (Terracing: 31, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when Toni Mauzer kicked off to start the match. Ilija Skugor took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Gilvan Chaves, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. If Dorival Bittencourt had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 6th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After a rather tough play, Rockets's Dorival Bittencourt got a free kick in the 7th minute. Teo Gudelj kicked well hit freekick during the 12th minute of the match. Ilija Skugor made an important save on a dangerous shot by Róbson Messias in the 28th minute. 39 minutes into the game, Croatia's Toni Mauzer nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. João Adolfo Mineiro made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 0-2. The supporters of Croatia booed when Rockets was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 43 match minutes in a wonderful position. Elder Rocha didn't get a good kick on the ball. The audience held their breath when Eduard Kostelac in the 44th minute of the game managed to trick the opponents defenses and fired away a shot outside the goal on the João Adolfo Mineiro's left hand side. After the first half Croatia were leading 0-2. They had played with great self confidence throughout the first half and fully deserved their lead.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Róbson Messias stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. In the 51st minute Martin Bosak shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but João Adolfo Mineiro saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. When the match had gone on for 53 minutes, Toni Mauzer took a quick shot and it went in 0-3 without a chance for João Adolfo Mineiro to make any attempt to save it. In the 56th match minute, Croatia was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Toni Mauzer to maneuver through the defense. In the 60th minute the ball was on its way in behind Croatia's goalkeeper Ilija Skugor, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. Croatia's Ilija Skugor played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Róbson Messias in the 64th minute of play. João Pedro de Senna hit a great freekick 64 minutes into the match. In the 71st minute, Martin Bosak hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. After a rather tough play, Croatia's Patrik Terzic got a free kick in the 72nd minute. A hard shot by Toni Mauzer from long distance, 74 minutes into the match, got João Adolfo Mineiro's attention. Through a fast twist with his body, he could stop the ball from going in on his right side. After 79 minutes of play, the referee blew the whistle. It was a penalty for Rockets! Rockets:s João Adolfo Mineiro showed great skill when he stopped Toni Mauzer:s penalty. 80 minutes into the game, Croatia's Toni Mauzer nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. João Adolfo Mineiro made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 0-4. 85 minutes into the match, Rockets's goalkeeper João Adolfo Mineiro had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Dinko Stankovic. Tomás Ferraz's late challenge caught a Croatia's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Tomás Ferraz helped the player get up and apologised. A collision led to Rockets getting a freekick after 90 minutes play. Tomás Ferraz hit a great ball. In the 95th minute Róbson Messias 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. The Croatia supporters could be heard counting down the last seconds of the match. They errupted in celebration when the whistle blew, knowing Croatia would go home with victory in their luggage after a match that easily could have ended differently.