Challenge

The Duck Pond
Spectators: 45 (Terracing: 35, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) Hungary's Antal Valentin 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. Antal Valentin fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 4th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Sly Collier having to interfere. In the 8th minute Antal Valentin shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Sly Collier saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Sly Collier made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Hegedus Henrik in the 9th minute of play. After 10 minutes Stickleback Utd Xl's defender was forced to head the ball over the line for a corner. It was Antal Valentin who took care of the corner kick. When Hungary's Balazs Lajos in 11 game minutes managed to cut through with the ball in front of the goal, only having to shoot. Sly Collier guarding the goal like a pit bull was extremely focused and managed to reach the ball just by the crossbar before it went in. After a defensive mix-up in Stickleback Utd Xl's zone, Antal Valentin stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Sly Collier came out of the goal and Antal Valentin tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Sly Collier showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Antal Valentin, who was totally free with the ball in the 15th minute. In the 15th minute, Antal Valentin ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Sly Collier was frozen by the shot and now it was 0-1. Sly Collier didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Antal Valentin went, in the 22nd minute, to the upper right corner, 0-2 was the resulting score. 25 minutes into the match, Major Barna notched a goal, 0-3, to the right of Stickleback Utd Xl's Sly Collier. Sly Collier was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. Fodor Daniel made a fantastic save in the 28th minute, when Tod McCartney sent off a good shot on target. After a rather tough play, Stickleback Utd Xl's Cliff Flower got a free kick in the 32nd minute. If Takacs Tibor had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 33rd minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. If Major Barna had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 35th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Cliff Flower's late challenge caught a Hungary's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Cliff Flower helped the player get up and apologised. The supporters of Hungary booed when Stickleback Utd Xl was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 41 match minutes in a wonderful position. Cliff Flower didn't get a good kick on the ball. Major Barna struck a weak shot in the 46th minute. Sly Collier didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Hungary. The crowd was extremely unhappy with the home team's performance in the first half. They were losing 0-3.

Fodor Daniel took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Gary Pettifer, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Major Barna could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 60th minute of the match, but Sly Collier made a huge save. Katona Janos recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 64th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. In the 73rd minute Hungary were awarded a corner. Antal Valentin went to the cornerflag to take it. The free kick made by Hungary's Hegedus Henrik led to a dangerous shot that went just outside the goal. 77 minutes into the match, Antal Valentin sent off a long shot that looked like it was going straight into the goal, but because Sly Collier threw himself in his full length he managed to grip the ball by the left post, and there was no goal for Antal Valentin this time. Gary Pettifer recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 81st minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Sly Collier made an important save on a dangerous shot by Antal Valentin in the 87th minute. Fodor Daniel showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Nicholas Poole, who was totally free with the ball in the 90th minute. When Durval Castro fell near the penalty area in the 94th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Stickleback Utd Xl's protests and gave Durval Castro a yellow card for diving instead. Hungary's players went to the stands to thank the travelling support. The fan's backing had helped spurr the team on to a fine performance that won them the match.