Challenge

National Stadium
Spectators: 45 (Terracing: 35, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) C Ａ R D I N Ａ L's Deng Kun Xu 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. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Cezar Rizea during the 2nd minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. After 3 played minutes C Ａ R D I N Ａ L got a freekick which was hit by Cezar Rizea. Yang Ming Ran made an important save on a dangerous shot by Robert Tudor in the 6th minute. U21 Romania were awarded a corner in the 10th minute after C Ａ R D I N Ａ L's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Petre Petrean took the corner. Yang Ming Ran made a fantastic save in the 21st minute, when Robert Tudor sent off a good shot on target. U21 Romania were awarded a corner in the 22th minute after C Ａ R D I N Ａ L's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Petre Petrean took the corner. U21 Romania's Ursus Martin was first on the ball when the corner was shot and he dangerously headed the ball towards goal, but Yang Ming Ran in the goal jumped up to prevent it from getting in. After 24 played minutes U21 Romania got a freekick which was hit by Eliodor Oroveanu. Robert Tudor blasted a shot towards the goal in the 35th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Yang Ming Ran having to make a save. In the 36th minute Robert Tudor shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Yang Ming Ran saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. The supporters of C Ａ R D I N Ａ L booed when U21 Romania was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 37 match minutes in a wonderful position. Robert Tudor didn't get a good kick on the ball. In the 39th minute the ball was on its way in behind C Ａ R D I N Ａ L's goalkeeper Yang Ming Ran, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. Cornel Neghină made in the 40th minute of the game a quick throw-in and Petre Petrean immediately put the ball in play. Cornel Neghină kicked well hit freekick during the 42nd minute of the match. The first half was very even, with the score at 0-0 when the whistle went for half-time. The players welcomed the break and quickly retired to the dressing rooms.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Robert Tudor to make the kick off. Avram Teodorescu's late challenge caught a C Ａ R D I N Ａ L's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Avram Teodorescu helped the player get up and apologised. Marioara Matei had in the 53rdth minute some difficulties stopping Deng Kun Xu's well aimed penalty as it nearly passed him on his left side, but he still managed to hold the ball. In the 55th minute Sebastian Mailat shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Yang Ming Ran saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Marioara Matei took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Deng Kun Xu, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Marioara Matei came out of the goal in the 60th minute to try and stop a shot by C Ａ R D I N Ａ L's Deng Kun Xu. But to his dismay, Deng Kun Xu quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 0-1. C Ａ R D I N Ａ L made a substitution. Iordache Donici replaced Roland Smolarek. When U21 Romania's Robert Tudor in the 70th minute got a chance for a shot 70th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye C Ａ R D I N Ａ L's goalie prevented a goal. 74 minutes into the match, C Ａ R D I N Ａ L's goal looked a bit too open when Dan Braru came free, but Yang Ming Ran reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. 74 minutes in the game, the ball went up into the seats when U21 Romania's Dan Braru fired away a shot that was just a little bit too high. He walked away shaking his head. A sloppy throw-in by Panait Ponor in the 76th minute of the game went astray and was snapped up by U21 Romania's Costel Damian. After 80 minutes C Ａ R D I N Ａ L's defender was forced to head the ball over the line for a corner. It was Petre Petrean who took care of the corner kick. The corner led U21 Romania's Sebastian Mailat to fire away a dangerous shot which Yang Ming Ran despite some difficulties managed to get hold on the ball. If Robert Tudor had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 81st minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. C Ａ R D I N Ａ L's Yang Ming Ran played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Robert Tudor in the 81st minute of play. After a rather tough play, U21 Romania's Costel Damian got a free kick in the 82nd minute. The supporters of U21 Romania booed when C Ａ R D I N Ａ L was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 87 match minutes in a wonderful position. Jean-Jacques Ares didn't get a good kick on the ball. In the 89th minute, Robert Tudor left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The U21 Romania fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 1-1. With an all-out effort, C Ａ R D I N Ａ L's Marioara Matei threw himself towards the right post 94 minutes into the match and grabbed hold of the ball from Herminio Vincente, which otherwise would have been placed in the net. 96 minutes had been played when some careless play by U21 Romania's defense caused the ball to cross the line for a corner. Gu Hui Liang was slow to take the kick. During this time C Ａ R D I N Ａ L's players had a chance to rest. The second half was just like the first, even and exciting. The match ended in a draw.