Challenge

POLITEHNICA IASI
Spectators: 40 (Terracing: 31, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when Remus Nuțu kicked off to start the match. Nicu Timofte showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Neven Culina in the 4th minute of the match. Nicu Timofte showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Damir Pongrac in the 5th minute of the match. In the 7th minute, George Baldu hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Ilija Skugor took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Remus Nuțu, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. When Damir Pongrac fell near the penalty area in the 18th 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. In the 18th minute, Damir Pongrac hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. After 21 minutes of play, Croatia's Toni Mauzer made it 0-1 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Nicu Timofte was left in no man's land by his defense there! Horaţiu Buciuman took the ball and in the 24 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Ilija Skugor. Ilija Skugor dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 1-1. Ilija Skugor made an important save on a dangerous shot by Sergiu Gherguț in the 29th minute. Horaţiu Buciuman could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 30th minute of the match, but Ilija Skugor made a huge save. Sergiu Gherguț could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 31st minute of the match, but Ilija Skugor made a huge save. Nicu Timofte made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Dinko Stankovic in the 32nd minute of play. Remus Nuțu in the 34thth minute had a little luck and got a chance for a shot in front of the goal. Without hesitation aimed to the right of Ilija Skugor, who managed to lunge to the right direction and made a save. Ilija Skugor took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Horaţiu Buciuman, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Sergiu Gherguț who was well placed in front of the goal fired away a dangerous shot that in the 46thth minute tested the skills of Ilija Skugor when he managed to save the team from getting behind. Toni Mauzer might have been able to make a better finish in the 47th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Nicu Timofte. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Toni Mauzer ran back to his position shaking his head. In the 47th minute, Toni Mauzer got an opportunity to score, but he didn't get a solid hit on the ball and ended up kicking it wide of the goal. Af the end of the first half the score was 2-1. The first half had gone as expected for the home team.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Toni Mauzer to strike the kick off in the second half. Poli Iași's Nicu Timofte proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 53rd minute of the match, managed to save Poli Iași from getting a goal against them. In the 54th minute George Baldu suffered a knee injury and had to be helped off the field. When Neven Culina fell near the penalty area in the 55th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Croatia's protests and gave Neven Culina a yellow card for diving instead. In the 56th match minute, Croatia was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Neven Culina to maneuver through the defense. In the 57th match minute, Croatia was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Dinko Stankovic to maneuver through the defense. After 59 played minutes Croatia got a freekick which was hit by Teo Gudelj. Ilija Skugor made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Sergiu Gherguț in the 62nd minute of play. If Horaţiu Buciuman had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 64th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. An unexpectedly hard shot by Damir Pongrac in the 70th minute of play forced Poli Iași's goalkeeper Nicu Timofte to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 72nd minute Matei Encuțescu 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. Ilija Skugor made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Horaţiu Buciuman in the 79th minute of play. The supporters of Croatia booed when Poli Iași was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 81 match minutes in a wonderful position. Sebastian Cămărășescu didn't get a good kick on the ball. Toni Mauzer shot from long distance in the 82nd minute, but Nicu Timofte was prepared and stopped the ball at the left post. In the 86th minute Martin Bosak shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Nicu Timofte saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. 87 minutes into the match, Croatia's goal looked a bit too open when Matei Encuțescu came free, but Ilija Skugor reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Sergiu Gherguț in the 90th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Ilija Skugor prevented the ball from getting in the gole. After 91 played minutes Croatia got a freekick which was hit by Neven Culina. Martin Bosak hit a great freekick 92 minutes into the match. After 93 minutes of play, Poli Iași's Sergiu Gherguț made it 4-1 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Ilija Skugor was left in no man's land by his defense there!