Challenge

Escola Raimon
Spectators: 40 (Terracing: 31, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) Kyle Cox started the match with the kick off in front of an excited audience. Khalid Kennedy showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Paulo Renato Paiva in the 3rd minute of the match. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Paulo Renato Paiva in the 10th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Khalid Kennedy saved England from getting behind. A collision led to Inazuma Japan getting a freekick after 11 minutes play. Joel Magalhães hit a great ball. The crowd rose to their feet as Paulo Renato Paiva kicked a wonderful shot that went in to the left of a diving Khalid Kennedy. That made the score 1-0 in the 18 minute of play. Zé Vieira took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Micah Macdonald, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Kyle Cox received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 23rd minute. Zé Vieira tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Zé Vieira showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Kyle Cox, who was totally free with the ball in the 26th minute. After a defensive mix-up in Inazuma Japan's zone, Kyle Cox stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Zé Vieira came out of the goal and Kyle Cox tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. After 30 played minutes England got a freekick which was hit by Xavier Gallagher. An unexpectedly hard shot by Rui Silva in the 32nd minute of play forced England's goalkeeper Khalid Kennedy to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Fred Cardozo's late challenge caught a England's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Fred Cardozo helped the player get up and apologised. Zé Vieira took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Micah Macdonald, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. After a rather tough play, Inazuma Japan's Paulo Renato Paiva got a free kick in the 37th minute. 39 minutes into the game, Kyle Cox cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 1-1. Zé Vieira was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. In the 47th minute, Micah Macdonald 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. After the first half the score was level. The break gave the players a chance to catch their breath, whilst the managers went over the tactics with them again.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Paulo Renato Paiva to make the kick off. In the 54th minute of the match, Kyle Cox tried to roll the ball into the goal by the right post, but Zé Vieira saw his intentions and got control of the ball before it passed the line. Zé Vieira made a fantastic save in the 58th minute, when Micah Macdonald sent off a good shot on target. In the 59th minute of the match England got a corner. Inazuma Japan's goalie ran out to the linesman to protest the call, but the linesman resolutely pointed his flag at the cornerflag. Micah Macdonald ran over to the corner to take the kick. In the 61st minute Kyle Cox shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Zé Vieira saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Zé Vieira didn't succeed in stopping the ball in the 65th minute, which inside left pole to 1-2. When Joaquim Maranhense fell near the penalty area in the 69th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Inazuma Japan's protests and gave Joaquim Maranhense a yellow card for diving instead. In the 69th match minute, Inazuma Japan was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Joaquim Maranhense to maneuver through the defense. In the 72nd match minute, Inazuma Japan was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Joel Magalhães to maneuver through the defense. In the 75th minute, Gilson Prestes left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The Inazuma Japan fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 2-2. In the 85th minute the ball was on its way in behind Inazuma Japan's goalkeeper Zé Vieira, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. In the 87th minute Kyle Cox shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Zé Vieira saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Kyle Cox sent away a hard shot on goal in the 89th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. 91 minutes into the match, England's goal looked a bit too open when Rui Silva came free, but Khalid Kennedy reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. The supporters of England booed when Inazuma Japan was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 92 match minutes in a wonderful position. Gilson Prestes didn't get a good kick on the ball. The referee blew the final whistle, and the away crowd roared, having watched England eke out a victory against a very well matched opponent.