Challenge

Soccer Arena
Spectators: 43 (Terracing: 33, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) Dan Gheară took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Micah Macdonald, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. An unexpectedly hard shot by Kyle Cox in the 15th minute of play forced Cosmos Soccer Club's goalkeeper Dan Gheară to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Khalid Kennedy took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Ivan Ţopescu, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Khalid Kennedy made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Ivan Ţopescu in the 20th minute of play. Khalid Kennedy showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Ivan Ţopescu, who was totally free with the ball in the 20th minute. After 21 minutes England's defender was forced to head the ball over the line for a corner. It was Waldo Bean who took care of the corner kick. The corner led Cosmos Soccer Club's Waldo Bean to fire away a dangerous shot which Khalid Kennedy despite some difficulties managed to get hold on the ball. Dan Gheară showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Issac Dawson, who was totally free with the ball in the 23rd minute. After a rather tough play, Cosmos Soccer Club's Ivan Ţopescu got a free kick in the 23rd minute. A collision led to Cosmos Soccer Club getting a freekick after 24 minutes play. Ivan Ţopescu hit a great ball. 25 minutes into the match, Cosmos Soccer Club's goal looked a bit too open when Kyle Cox came free, but Dan Gheară reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. England's defense didn't have a chance, in the 27th minute, when Grant McKay scored to the left of an out of position Khalid Kennedy, making the score, 1-1. Dan Gheară didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Kyle Cox went, in the 32nd minute, to the upper right corner, 1-2 was the resulting score. Dan Gheară made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Issac Dawson in the 37th minute of play. In the 44th match minute, England was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Kyle Cox to maneuver through the defense. In the 48th minute Kyle Cox shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Dan Gheară saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. After the first half England were leading 1-2. They had played with great self confidence throughout the first half and fully deserved their lead.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Kyle Cox made a kick off. The audience was convinced that Issac Dawson's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Dan Gheară was relentless in the 53rd minute of the game. In the 66thth minute of the game Ivan Ţopescu who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but England's Khalid Kennedy was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. Grant McKay fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 77th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Khalid Kennedy having to interfere. Waldo Bean hit a great freekick 79 minutes into the match. After a defensive mix-up in Cosmos Soccer Club's zone, Micah Macdonald stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Dan Gheară came out of the goal and Micah Macdonald tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. With an all-out effort, England's Dan Gheară threw himself towards the right post 82 minutes into the match and grabbed hold of the ball from Kyle Cox, which otherwise would have been placed in the net. Micah Macdonald's late challenge caught a Cosmos Soccer Club's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Micah Macdonald helped the player get up and apologised. The supporters of Cosmos Soccer Club booed when England was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 89 match minutes in a wonderful position. Micah Macdonald didn't get a good kick on the ball. Grant McKay received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 90th minute. Khalid Kennedy tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. The Cosmos Soccer Club supporters were disappointed that their team didn't take anything from the match, despite matching England's performance. The match ended with a win for England.