Challenge

Saitama Stadium
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. Franklin Schmidt started the match with the kick off. After a rather tough play, Austria's Jonas Nalder got a free kick in the 4th minute. Franklin Schmidt scored 1-0 in the 7th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Fabio Auer, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. In the 14th minute, THESPA KUSATSU GUNMA's Egídio Couto dribbled the ball into the box and hit a shot with the outside of his foot, sending the keeper the wrong way. 2-0. Fabio Auer took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Egídio Couto, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Marc Kronecker hit a great freekick 24 minutes into the match. The audience thought a goal was coming when Júnior Tinoco got free with Fabio Auer in the 24th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Álvaro Amaral took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Fabio Schneider, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 41st minute, THESPA KUSATSU GUNMA's Germano Romero ran free of his marker and smoothly shot the ball into the goal behind Fabio Auer. Fabio Auer yelled at his defense, as they had left him out to dry. 3-1. Narciso Nogueira's shot from long distance in the 45th minute was not bad at all, but Austria's Fabio Auer knew what was happening and pushed the ball into his arms just before it hit the right post. No-one was surprised that the home team were leading 3-1 at half-time.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Sandro Galishoff made a kick off. Franklin Schmidt took the ball and in the 52 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Fabio Auer. Fabio Auer dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 4-1. Fabio Auer came out of the goal in the 57th minute to try and stop a shot by THESPA KUSATSU GUNMA's Franklin Schmidt. But to his dismay, Franklin Schmidt quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 5-1. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Marc Kronecker during the 63rd minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. In the 62nd minute, one of Austria:s players had the ball in front of the goal but got pushed and fell. The referee felt it was an obvious case and blew a penalty for Austria. Fabio Auer had in the 64thth minute some difficulties stopping Júnior Tinoco's well aimed penalty as it nearly passed him on his left side, but he still managed to hold the ball. Egídio Couto received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 75th minute. Fabio Auer tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. After a rather tough play, THESPA KUSATSU GUNMA's Orlando Saraiva got a free kick in the 76th minute. Egídio Couto's late challenge caught a Austria's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Egídio Couto helped the player get up and apologised. The supporters of Austria booed when THESPA KUSATSU GUNMA was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 78 match minutes in a wonderful position. Egídio Couto didn't get a good kick on the ball. Fabio Auer showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Egídio Couto in the 80th minute of the match. Fabio Auer took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Germano Romero, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. The supporters of THESPA KUSATSU GUNMA booed when Austria was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 87 match minutes in a wonderful position. Marc Kronecker didn't get a good kick on the ball. 89 minutes into the match, Austria's goal looked a bit too open when Franklin Schmidt came free, but Fabio Auer reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Austria's Fabio Auer played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Egídio Couto in the 90th minute of play. There was no doubt that THESPA KUSATSU GUNMA were the better team. THESPA KUSATSU GUNMA's players enjoyed the ovations of the crowd after the victory.