Challenge

Arena Nilton Santos
Spectators: 40 (Terracing: 31, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Kyle Cox started the match with the kick off. Kyle Cox's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Alfredo Macedo read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 5th minute of play. 6 minutes had been played when some careless play by Nova Era's defense caused the ball to cross the line for a corner. Micah Macdonald was slow to take the kick. During this time England's players had a chance to rest. After 14 played minutes, Nova Era's Vito Freire shot from a long distance, and at first it looked like the ball was going into the goal, but the goalkeeper Khalid Kennedy came through and got his fingers on the ball before it flew over the goal line. He then quickly gripped the ball tighter before the forwards in Nova Era reached it. 19 minutes into the match, Nova Era's goal looked a bit too open when Micah Macdonald came free, but Alfredo Macedo reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. With a little luck, England's Khalid Kennedy got control of the ball when Zé Augusto de Sousa tried to sneak it across the goal line. In the 22nd match minute, Nova Era was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Jailson Leão to maneuver through the defense. Khalid Kennedy made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Egídio Vaz in the 26th minute of play. Pedro Coutinho kicked well hit freekick during the 27th minute of the match. Khalid Kennedy showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Zé Augusto de Sousa in the 30th minute of the match. In the 31st minute, Ivo Silva hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Micah Macdonald received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 32nd minute. Alfredo Macedo tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. An unexpectedly hard shot by Issac Dawson in the 39th minute of play forced Nova Era's goalkeeper Alfredo Macedo to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. 39 minutes into the match, Nova Era's goal looked a bit too open when Issac Dawson came free, but Alfredo Macedo reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. The supporters of England booed when Nova Era was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 40 match minutes in a wonderful position. Pedro Coutinho didn't get a good kick on the ball. In the 44th match minute, England was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Seth Young to maneuver through the defense. The fans had the chance to grab some refreshments as the whistle went for half-time. The score stood at 0-0 after a close first half.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Egídio Vaz to make the kick off. After some fancy dribbling in the 51st minute, Kyle Cox managed to get in a good position for a shot. England's supporters rose to their feet, but Kyle Cox was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Alfredo Macedo breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Seth Young kicked well hit freekick during the 54th minute of the match. Micah Macdonald fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 58th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Alfredo Macedo having to interfere. If Kyle Cox had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 60th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 64th minute, Seth Young hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. In the 68th minute, England's Kyle Cox ran free of his marker and smoothly shot the ball into the goal behind Alfredo Macedo. Alfredo Macedo yelled at his defense, as they had left him out to dry. 0-1. After 70 played minutes England got a freekick which was hit by Eddie Willis. Khalid Kennedy showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Egídio Vaz, who was totally free with the ball in the 71st minute. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Egídio Vaz in the 73rd managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Khalid Kennedy saved England from getting behind. Didi Vergílio sent away a hard shot on goal in the 79th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Caelan Hayes hit a great freekick 80 minutes into the match. 83 minutes into the match, Nova Era's goal looked a bit too open when Kyle Cox came free, but Alfredo Macedo reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Egídio Vaz sent away a hard shot on goal in the 92nd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance.