Challenge

Pier Luigi PenZo
Spectators: 41 (Terracing: 32, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) 8 minutes into the game, Mihăiţă Mailat was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Venezia FC's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Croatia the free kick. The crowd rose to their feet as Ciprian Bojincă kicked a wonderful shot that went in to the left of a diving Ilija Skugor. That made the score 2-0 in the 10 minute of play. Ilija Skugor made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Valer Bornescu in the 13th minute of play. An unexpectedly hard shot by Ciprian Bojincă in the 16th minute of play forced Croatia's goalkeeper Ilija Skugor to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Croatia's Ilija Skugor proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 18th minute of the match, managed to save Croatia from getting a goal against them. Martin Bosak fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 26th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Sever Amânaloae having to interfere. In the 29th minute, Venezia FC's Petru Ştef seemed to kick out at an opponent. The referee saw this and, surprisingly, showed Petru Ştef the red card, dismissing him from the pitch. The coaching staff of Venezia FC protested bitterly, but the referee would have none of it, and Petru Ştef had no choice but to slowly walk off the pitch. Petru Ştef kicked well hit freekick during the 30th minute of the match. Toni Mauzer's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Sever Amânaloae read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 31st minute of play. After 34 played minutes Croatia got a freekick which was hit by Damir Pongrac. If Ivan Gănescu had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 37th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After a defensive mix-up in Croatia's zone, Sorin Dragușin stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Ilija Skugor came out of the goal and Sorin Dragușin tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. An unexpectedly hard shot by Ciprian Bojincă in the 41st minute of play forced Croatia's goalkeeper Ilija Skugor to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. 42 minutes into the game, Ivan Gănescu was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Venezia FC's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Croatia the free kick. Ilija Skugor showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Ciprian Bojincă, who was totally free with the ball in the 47th minute. The home fans were very happy to see their team leading 3-0 at half-time.

53 minutes into the match, Aurel Șeimeanu notched a goal, 4-0, to the right of Croatia's Ilija Skugor. Ilija Skugor was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. The supporters of Croatia booed when Venezia FC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 56 match minutes in a wonderful position. Viorel Vlădean didn't get a good kick on the ball. Toni Mauzer sent away a hard shot on goal in the 58th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Ilija Skugor showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Dinu Luncașu in the 60th minute of the match. Croatia's Ilija Skugor played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Ciprian Bojincă in the 65th minute of play. When Ciprian Bojincă came up free with the goalie in the 66th minute, the Venezia FC fans jumped to their feet. But the shot missed the goal by a fraction of an inch, and the fans sat back down disappointed that Ciprian Bojincă couldn't finish the play. After having played for 68 minutes, Dinu Luncașu managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Venezia FC's supporters crossed their fingers, but Dinu Luncașu was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. In the 70th minute Martin Bosak shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Sever Amânaloae saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 75th minute Ivan Gănescu 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. 78 minutes into the match, Croatia's goal looked a bit too open when Valer Bornescu came free, but Ilija Skugor reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. An unexpectedly hard shot by Ciprian Bojincă in the 81st minute of play forced Croatia's goalkeeper Ilija Skugor to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Ciprian Bojincă might have been able to make a better finish in the 85th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Ilija Skugor. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Ciprian Bojincă ran back to his position shaking his head. In the 93rd minute Aurel Șeimeanu 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. Ciprian Bojincă took the ball and in the 94 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 5-0. Venezia FC's supporters were delighted with their team's performance and swarmed onto the pitch at the end of the match to celebrate the victory with the players.