Challenge

Johan Cruyff Arena
Spectators: 45 (Terracing: 35, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) The mood of the audience was pleasant when Adam Olaru made the kick off which started today's match. Adam Olaru sent away a hard shot on goal in the 3rd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. 6 minutes into the match, Costica Vladimiri notched a goal, 0-1, to the right of AFC Ajax's Akis Sarafis. Akis Sarafis was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. Costica Vladimiri received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 12th minute. Akis Sarafis tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. In the 15th 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. Akis Sarafis showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Adam Olaru in the 16th minute of the match. After 23 played minutes Romania got a freekick which was hit by Vasile Ciumak. In the 25th minute Adam Olaru shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Akis Sarafis saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 26th minute of the match Romania got a corner. AFC Ajax's goalie ran out to the linesman to protest the call, but the linesman resolutely pointed his flag at the cornerflag. Adam Olaru ran over to the corner to take the kick. The corner went over the outstretched arms of AFC Ajax's goalie and right to Sanda Cutov. He fired away a shot at goal, but the shot had too much spin, and it went just outside the goal. AFC Ajax's manager breathed a sigh of relief on the sidelines as his team had managed to escape an almost certain goal. Alex Serban scored 1-2 in the 29th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Akis Sarafis, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. Akis Sarafis showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Alex Serban in the 33rd minute of the match. AFC Ajax's Akis Sarafis played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Rasvan Cristescu in the 43rd minute of play. 43 minutes into the match, AFC Ajax's goal looked a bit too open when Rasvan Cristescu came free, but Akis Sarafis reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After 47 minutes of play, Romania's Costica Vladimiri made it 1-3 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Akis Sarafis was left in no man's land by his defense there! Luck had favoured the away team in the first, and they walked off with a 1-3 lead.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Markos Seremetidis made a kick off. Aleksander Petka kicked well hit freekick during the 53rd minute of the match. In the 56thth minute of the game Alex Serban who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but AFC Ajax's Akis Sarafis was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. Akis Sarafis took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Adam Olaru, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Akis Sarafis took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Costica Vladimiri, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Akis Sarafis made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Alex Serban in the 65th minute of play. In the 75th match minute, AFC Ajax was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Veniamin Kountouratzis to maneuver through the defense. AFC Ajax made a substitution. Thalis Karteris replaced Aleksander Petka. Romania's Alexandru Pangratiu was substituted for Alex Serban. AFC Ajax's Aureo Morera was substituted for Li Kuan Hong. AFC Ajax's Alexandros Sardanis was substituted for Markos Seremetidis. After a rather tough play, AFC Ajax's Veniamin Kountouratzis got a free kick in the 76th minute. After 80 played minutes AFC Ajax got a freekick which was hit by Kyriakos Seremetis. After 81 played minutes, Romania's Sanda Cutov shot from a long distance, and at first it looked like the ball was going into the goal, but the goalkeeper Akis Sarafis came through and got his fingers on the ball before it flew over the goal line. He then quickly gripped the ball tighter before the forwards in Romania reached it. The audience thought a goal was coming when Octavian Vaduva got free with Akis Sarafis in the 87th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. The crowd rose to their feet as Romania's Rasvan Cristescu slotted home a wonderful shot that went in to the left of Akis Sarafis. That made the score 1-4 after 91 minutes of play. Octavian Vaduva sent away a hard shot on goal in the 94th minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. In the 95th minute Anton Stinga shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Akis Sarafis saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Anton Stingas short, quick shot in the 96thth minute got Akis Sarafis to make great effort and bar the ball away from getting in. Through an outstanding action, after 97 minutes, Akis Sarafis successfully got his hands on the ball before it slid into the goal at the right post. Romania played a much better game than AFC Ajax and deserved their victory. The AFC Ajax players were clearly disappointed as they left the ground.