Challenge

Queen Arena
Spectators: 43 (Terracing: 33, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Gabriel Vermeşan started the match with the kick off. 3 minutes into the match, Takacs Tibor notched a goal, 0-1, to the right of Emerald's Nichifor Nicolae. Nichifor Nicolae was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. The audience was convinced that Major Barna's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Nichifor Nicolae was relentless in the 7th minute of the game. The Hungary fans' excitement grew in the 7th match minute when Hungary's Major Barna looked to have a clear shot with the ball near the goal. The shot wasn't hard, but the ball still rolled over the goal line to make it 0-2 before the goalkeeper had a chance to intervene. The supporters of Emerald booed when Hungary was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 11 match minutes in a wonderful position. Balazs Lajos didn't get a good kick on the ball. Hungary's Fodor Daniel played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Pompiliu Uncheşelu in the 12th minute of play. Nichifor Nicolae showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Major Barna in the 14th minute of the match. Nichifor Nicolae showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Balazs Lajos, who was totally free with the ball in the 17th minute. After some careless play in the Emerald defense, Balazs Lajos kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Nichifor Nicolae. The Emerald fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Nichifor Nicolae should have stopped the shot. Antal Valentin fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 23rd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Nichifor Nicolae having to interfere. Nichifor Nicolae took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Antal Valentin, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Fodor Daniel made a fantastic save in the 28th minute, when Cătălin Hăulică sent off a good shot on target. In the 30th match minute, Emerald was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Trifon Ivanov to maneuver through the defense. Nichifor Nicolae showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Antal Valentin in the 30th minute of the match. In the 32ndth minute of the game Gabriel Vermeşan who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Hungary's Fodor Daniel was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Hegedus Henrik during the 32nd minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. After a rather tough play, Hungary's Hegedus Henrik got a free kick in the 33rd minute. 34 minutes into the match, Hungary's goal looked a bit too open when Pompiliu Uncheşelu came free, but Fodor Daniel reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Major Barna sent away a hard shot on goal in the 37th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Fodor Daniel made an important save on a dangerous shot by Gabriel Vermeşan in the 38th minute. Fodor Daniel showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Cătălin Hăulică in the 40th minute of the match. 43 minutes into the match, Hungary's Major Barna sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Nichifor Nicolae narrowly saved just below the crossbar. After a defensive mix-up in Hungary's zone, Gabriel Vermeşan stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Fodor Daniel came out of the goal and Gabriel Vermeşan tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play.

Emerald made a substitution. Andrei Alexandrescu replaced Cătălin Hăulică. Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Antal Valentin to make the kick off. After having played for 51 minutes, Andrei Alexandrescu managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Emerald's supporters crossed their fingers, but Andrei Alexandrescu was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Fodor Daniel showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Gabriel Vermeşan, who was totally free with the ball in the 52nd minute. Major Barna received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 56th minute. Nichifor Nicolae tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. The supporters of Hungary booed when Emerald was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 60 match minutes in a wonderful position. Xamo Zubiaur didn't get a good kick on the ball. After 61 played minutes Hungary got a freekick which was hit by Boros Benedek. If Pompiliu Uncheşelu had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 62nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. Andrei Alexandrescu hit a great freekick 64 minutes into the match. Fodor Daniel showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Andrei Alexandrescu in the 67th minute of the match. Gabriel Vermeşan recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 71st minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. In the 73rd minute, Antal Valentin fired away a killer shot towards the goal that, to the delight of Nichifor Nicolae, passed just outside the right post. After 77 played minutes Hungary got a freekick which was hit by Boros Benedek. Gabriel Vermeşan struck a weak shot in the 78th minute. Fodor Daniel didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Emerald. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Gabriel Vermeşan in the 80th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Fodor Daniel saved Hungary from getting behind. In the 81st minute Emerald were awarded a corner. Pompiliu Uncheşelu went to the cornerflag to take it. A nice corner shot did that Pompiliu Uncheşelu got away a dangerous shot. Despite this Fodor Daniel quite easily got ahold of the ball to make the save. The Emerald fans' excitement grew in the 87th match minute when Emerald's Andrei Alexandrescu looked to have a clear shot with the ball near the goal. The shot wasn't hard, but the ball still rolled over the goal line to make it 1-3 before the goalkeeper had a chance to intervene. In the 96th minute Takacs Tibor shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Nichifor Nicolae saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 97th minute of the match Hungary got a corner. Emerald's goalie ran out to the linesman to protest the call, but the linesman resolutely pointed his flag at the cornerflag. Antal Valentin ran over to the corner to take the kick. Hungary's players went to the stands to thank the travelling support. The fan's backing had helped spurr the team on to a fine performance that won them the match.