Challenge

England Arena
Spectators: 49 (Terracing: 38, Seating: 11, VIP seats: 0) Palloketut's Romelu Lukaku started the match with a crisp pass. The crowd had been anticipating this game for weeks and the excitement in the stadium was easily visible. Micah Macdonald recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 3rd minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Voitto Nyrhinen received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 7th minute. Khalid Kennedy tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Romelu Lukaku blasted a shot towards the goal in the 10th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Khalid Kennedy having to make a save. Romelu Lukaku's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Khalid Kennedy read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 10th minute of play. Khalid Kennedy made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Voitto Nyrhinen in the 13th minute of play. When Tommi Kangasmäki came up free with the goalie in the 17th minute, the Palloketut 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 Tommi Kangasmäki couldn't finish the play. Khalid Kennedy took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Voitto Nyrhinen, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Caelan Hayes hit a great freekick 20 minutes into the match. Quinn Holmes's late challenge caught a Palloketut's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Quinn Holmes helped the player get up and apologised. England's Khalid Kennedy played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Romelu Lukaku in the 23rd minute of play. Voitto Nyrhinen sent away a hard shot on goal in the 24th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. 28 minutes into the match, England's goal looked a bit too open when Romelu Lukaku came free, but Khalid Kennedy reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Khalid Kennedy made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Romelu Lukaku in the 34th minute of play. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Romelu Lukaku in the 38th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Khalid Kennedy prevented the ball from getting in the gole. 39 minutes into the match, Palloketut's Romelu Lukaku sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Khalid Kennedy narrowly saved just below the crossbar. England's Micah Macdonald got a good chance for a goal in the 41st minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. The first half was very even, with the score at 0-0 when the whistle went for half-time. The players welcomed the break and quickly retired to the dressing rooms.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Kyle Cox was the one to do the kick off. In the 51st minute Rikhard Elomo shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Khalid Kennedy saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Palloketut's Yan Chong Sen played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Kyle Cox in the 63rd minute of play. In the 64th match minute, Palloketut was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Voitto Nyrhinen to maneuver through the defense. With a little luck, England's Khalid Kennedy got control of the ball when Voitto Nyrhinen tried to sneak it across the goal line. 75 minutes into the game, England's Issac Dawson nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Yan Chong Sen made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 1-0. England's Kyle Cox got a good chance for a goal in the 88th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Micah Macdonald 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. After a rather tough play, England's Quinn Holmes got a free kick in the 93rd minute.