Challenge

Romania Arena
Spectators: 47 (Terracing: 36, Seating: 11, VIP seats: 0) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Adam Olaru started the match with the kick off. In the 6th minute Adam Olaru shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Emanuel Podgoreanu saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 8th minute the ball was on its way in behind Acercate Y Patea de Lejos's goalkeeper Emanuel Podgoreanu, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. Emanuel Podgoreanu stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Adam Olaru's shot from short distance in the 13th minute. Romania's attacker deliberately struck the ball against an opponent to win a corner for his team. The corner was taken by Adam Olaru in the 14th minute. Romania's attacker deliberately struck the ball against an opponent to win a corner for his team. The corner was taken by Adam Olaru in the 15th minute. The corner led to Romania's Rasvan Cristescu getting away a dangerous shot that went just outside the goal. 20 minutes into the match, Romania's Rasvan Cristescu sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Emanuel Podgoreanu narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Carol Stinga made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Natalio Guter in the 27th minute of play. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Horácio Garcia in the 33rd managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Carol Stinga saved Romania from getting behind. Emanuel Podgoreanu showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Adam Olaru, who was totally free with the ball in the 35th minute. Romania were awarded a corner in the 36th minute after Acercate Y Patea de Lejos's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Adam Olaru took the corner. Romania's Costica Vladimiri was first on the ball when the corner was shot and he dangerously headed the ball towards goal, but Emanuel Podgoreanu in the goal jumped up to prevent it from getting in. Romania's Carol Stinga played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Horácio Garcia in the 40th minute of play. Natalio Guter fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 42nd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Carol Stinga having to interfere. An unexpectedly hard shot by Natalio Guter in the 46th minute of play forced Romania's goalkeeper Carol Stinga to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 47th minute Horácio Garcia shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Carol Stinga saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. After fighting hard for a draw in the first half, the players were able to take a much needed rest.

Carol Stinga showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Eusebio Fernendo in the 61st minute of the match. Emanuel Podgoreanu took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Alex Serban, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Horácio Garcia received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 66th minute. Carol Stinga tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Romania's Octavian Vaduva was substituted for Costica Vladimiri. Acercate Y Patea de Lejos's Jose Gipuzkoa was substituted for Hipolito Misael. Romania's Alexandru Pangratiu was substituted for Alex Serban. Acercate Y Patea de Lejos's Eliseo Abechuco was substituted for Horácio Garcia. Carol Stinga showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Eliseo Abechuco in the 84th minute of the match. 85 minutes had been played when some careless play by Romania's defense caused the ball to cross the line for a corner. Erubiel Erasto was slow to take the kick. During this time Acercate Y Patea de Lejos's players had a chance to rest. In the 87th minute, Rosendo Gervaso ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Carol Stinga was frozen by the shot and now it was 0-1. In the 92nd minute Sanda Cutov shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Emanuel Podgoreanu saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. After a defensive mix-up in Acercate Y Patea de Lejos's zone, Sanda Cutov stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Emanuel Podgoreanu came out of the goal and Sanda Cutov tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. After 95 played minutes Romania got a freekick which was hit by Eugen Ionita. Romania's Carol Stinga proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 96th minute of the match, managed to save Romania from getting a goal against them. The Romania manager could be seen shouting at his players as they walked down the tunnel after the match. He was clearly angry that they had squandered their superior possession, allowing Acercate Y Patea de Lejos to win.