Challenge

Johan Cruyff Arena
Spectators: 45 (Terracing: 35, 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. Markos Seremetidis started the match with the kick off. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Adam Olaru in the 2nd minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Akis Sarafis prevented the ball from getting in the gole. An unexpectedly hard shot by Aleksander Petka in the 7th minute of play forced Romania's goalkeeper Carol Stinga to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Markos Seremetidis in the 9th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Carol Stinga prevented the ball from getting in the gole. In the 9th minute, Veniamin Kountouratzis hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Akis Sarafis came out of the goal in the 17th minute to try and stop a shot by Romania's Adam Olaru. But to his dismay, Adam Olaru quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 1-1. 20 minutes into the match, Romania's goal looked a bit too open when Markos Seremetidis came free, but Carol Stinga reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 23rdth minute of the game Markos Seremetidis who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Romania's Carol Stinga was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. The AFC Ajax fans' excitement grew in the 26th match minute when AFC Ajax's Markos Seremetidis 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 2-1 before the goalkeeper had a chance to intervene. Sanda Cutov might have been able to make a better finish in the 30th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Akis Sarafis. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Sanda Cutov ran back to his position shaking his head. Akis Sarafis showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Sanda Cutov, who was totally free with the ball in the 30th minute. An unexpectedly hard shot by Sanda Cutov in the 32nd minute of play forced AFC Ajax's goalkeeper Akis Sarafis to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Akis Sarafis made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Sanda Cutov in the 34th minute of play. Sanda Cutov sent away a hard shot on goal in the 37th minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. 41 minutes into the match, AFC Ajax's goal looked a bit too open when Vasile Ciumak came free, but Akis Sarafis reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Adam Olaru's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Akis Sarafis read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 44th minute of play. No-one was surprised that the home team were leading 2-1 at half-time.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Adam Olaru made a kick off. Through an outstanding action, after 57 minutes, Akis Sarafis successfully got his hands on the ball before it slid into the goal at the right post. In the 58th minute Markos Seremetidis 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. In the 60th minute, Sanda Cutov reached a very good position and smashed the ball with a huge effort into the net, just to the left of Akis Sarafis. The goal made the score 2-2. Romania made a substitution. Octavian Vaduva replaced Costica Vladimiri. AFC Ajax made a substitution. Thalis Karteris replaced Aleksander Petka. AFC Ajax's Aureo Morera was substituted for Li Kuan Hong. After a rather tough play, AFC Ajax's Aureo Morera got a free kick in the 66th minute. The supporters of Romania booed when AFC Ajax was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 66 match minutes in a wonderful position. Aureo Morera didn't get a good kick on the ball. AFC Ajax's Akis Sarafis played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Sanda Cutov in the 69th minute of play. Akis Sarafis took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Sanda Cutov, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. 73 minutes into the match, AFC Ajax's goal looked a bit too open when Sanda Cutov came free, but Akis Sarafis reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Romania's attacker deliberately struck the ball against an opponent to win a corner for his team. The corner was taken by Sanda Cutov in the 74th minute. The corner ended in Sanda Cutov almost managing to get the ball behind the net, but AFC Ajax's Akis Sarafis did a great save. In the 75th minute, Kyriakos Seremetis hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. In the 84th minute, Michelangelo Merganiotis got an opportunity to score, but he didn't get a solid hit on the ball and ended up kicking it wide of the goal. AFC Ajax's Akis Sarafis played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Anton Stinga in the 85th minute of play. Romania were awarded a corner in the 86th minute after AFC Ajax's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Sanda Cutov took the corner. Romania's Sanda Cutov was first on the ball when the corner was shot and he dangerously headed the ball towards goal, but Akis Sarafis in the goal jumped up to prevent it from getting in. Akis Sarafis showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Anton Stinga, who was totally free with the ball in the 93rd minute. Carol Stinga showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Alexandros Sardanis in the 95th minute of the match. Neither set of supporters seemed pleased with the draw, but both teams had played equally well today.