Challenge

Balkes Arena
Spectators: 40 (Terracing: 31, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) Balıkesirspor's Yılmaz Veli started the match with a crisp pass. The crowd had been anticipating this game for weeks and the excitement in the stadium was easily visible. Yılmaz Veli received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 3rd minute. Khalid Kennedy tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Gökhan Sehhar showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Caelan Hayes in the 5th minute of the match. Micah Macdonald sent away a hard shot on goal in the 11th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Gökhan Sehhar took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Kyle Cox, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Kyle Cox struck a weak shot in the 17th minute. Gökhan Sehhar didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for England. In the 19th match minute, Balıkesirspor was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Sven-Ove Björkdahl to maneuver through the defense. 20 minutes into the match, Balıkesirspor's goal looked a bit too open when Micah Macdonald came free, but Gökhan Sehhar reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Kyle Cox sent away a hard shot on goal in the 24th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. The audience thought a goal was coming when Atilla Kağan Reşit got free with Khalid Kennedy in the 27th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Yılmaz Veli hit a great freekick 30 minutes into the match. An unexpectedly hard shot by Caelan Hayes in the 32nd minute of play forced Balıkesirspor's goalkeeper Gökhan Sehhar to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. England were awarded a corner in the 33th minute after Balıkesirspor's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Micah Macdonald took the corner. The corner ended in Micah Macdonald almost managing to get the ball behind the net, but Balıkesirspor's Gökhan Sehhar did a great save. Vânderson Pitta took the ball and in the 35 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Khalid Kennedy. Khalid Kennedy dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 1-0. Gökhan Sehhar took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Kyle Cox, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Gökhan Sehhar came out of the goal in the 43rd minute to try and stop a shot by England's Micah Macdonald. But to his dismay, Micah Macdonald quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 1-1. Issac Dawson recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 46th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. After a very even first half the match was still tied. The players went to their respective dressing rooms to discuss the tactics for the second half.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Kyle Cox stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. Issac Dawson came free with the goalkeeper in the 51st minute of the match, and shot straight on target. The shot was a little too simple and Gökhan Sehhar could save by the left post. The audience was convinced that Kyle Cox's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Gökhan Sehhar was relentless in the 57th minute of the game. In the 57th minute, Şenel Tuğsavan hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. After 59 minutes of play, England's Micah Macdonald made it 1-2 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Gökhan Sehhar was left in no man's land by his defense there! In the 68th minute Kyle Cox shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Gökhan Sehhar saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Khalid Kennedy showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Vânderson Pitta in the 73rd minute of the match. Micah Macdonald recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 88th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Gökhan Sehhar made an important save on a dangerous shot by Micah Macdonald in the 94th minute. England's supporters were very happy and cheered loudly because their team had won after a very close match.