Challenge

FC NATIONAL ARENA
Spectators: 44 (Terracing: 34, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) The mood of the audience was pleasant when Chris Nygaard made the kick off which started today's match. An unexpectedly hard shot by Chris Nygaard in the 6th minute of play forced FC NATIONAL's goalkeeper Alexandros Petridis to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Octavian Popescu made a great header on FC NATIONAL's corner, it was just that Denmark's Keld Paulsen managed to reach the ball for a save. In the 11th minute, FC NATIONAL's Christian Chivu seemed to kick out at an opponent. The referee saw this and, surprisingly, showed Christian Chivu the red card, dismissing him from the pitch. The coaching staff of FC NATIONAL protested bitterly, but the referee would have none of it, and Christian Chivu had no choice but to slowly walk off the pitch. After 11 minutes of play, the referee blew the whistle. It was a penalty for FC NATIONAL! Octavian Popescu in the 19thth minute had a little luck and got a chance for a shot in front of the goal. Without hesitation aimed to the right of Keld Paulsen, who managed to lunge to the right direction and made a save. Alexandros Petridis showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Mikkel Wulff in the 22nd minute of the match. Denmark's Chris Nygaard got a good chance for a goal in the 25th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Octavian Popescu kicked well hit freekick during the 29th minute of the match. After a defensive mix-up in FC NATIONAL's zone, Chris Nygaard stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Alexandros Petridis came out of the goal and Chris Nygaard tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Apostolis Polychronopoulos charged in rather forcefully in the 32nd minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Apostolis Polychronopoulos the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. After 32 played minutes FC NATIONAL got a freekick which was hit by Apostolis Polychronopoulos. In the 35th minute, Marios Kotsilimbas reached a very good position and smashed the ball with a huge effort into the net, just to the left of Keld Paulsen. The goal made the score 1-1. If Bertram Svenningsen had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 38th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Alexandros Petridis didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Chris Nygaard went, in the 40th minute, to the upper right corner, 1-2 was the resulting score. Denmark's Keld Paulsen played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Octavian Popescu in the 45th minute of play. Octavian Popescu sent away a hard shot on goal in the 46th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After the first half Denmark were leading 1-2. They had played with great self confidence throughout the first half and fully deserved their lead.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Octavian Popescu to make the kick off. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Jonathan Calleri in the 52nd managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Keld Paulsen saved Denmark from getting behind. Octavian Popescu took the ball and in the 53 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Keld Paulsen. Keld Paulsen dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 2-2. Keld Paulsen didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Jonathan Calleri went, in the 57th minute, to the upper right corner, 3-2 was the resulting score. If Apostolis Polychronopoulos had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 62nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Iulian Miu made in the 69th minute of the game a sloppy throw-in which Apostolis Polychronopoulos however managed to control. FC NATIONAL were awarded a corner in the 74th minute after Denmark's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Octavian Popescu took the corner. In the 76th minute, Chris Nygaard reached a very good position and smashed the ball with a huge effort into the net, just to the left of Alexandros Petridis. The goal made the score 4-3. Mathias Ludvigsen kicked well hit freekick during the 80th minute of the match. Keld Paulsen showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Octavian Popescu in the 84th minute of the match. Iulian Miu charged in rather forcefully in the 90th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Iulian Miu the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. Iulian Miu hit a great freekick 90 minutes into the match. Octavian Popescu 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. The audience was convinced that Octavian Popescu's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Keld Paulsen was relentless in the 94th minute of the game. Alexandros Petridis made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Bertram Svenningsen in the 95th minute of play. Many of Denmark's supporters were seen to leave the ground early as it became clear their team was going to lose. Denmark may have spent more time on the ball, but FC NATIONAL were more willing to take their chances and they walked away with the win.