Challenge

Teatrul Viselor
Spectators: 44 (Terracing: 34, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) After 3 played minutes Venezuela got a freekick which was hit by Jonathan Venegas. The Scorpions -MM- fans' excitement grew in the 5th match minute when Scorpions -MM-'s Dan Tinu looked to have a clear shot with the ball near the goal. The shot wasn't hard, but the ball still rolled over the goal line to make it 1-0 before the goalkeeper had a chance to intervene. Walter Zenga made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Jose Correa in the 11th minute of play. In the 12th minute of the match Venezuela got a corner. Scorpions -MM-'s goalie ran out to the linesman to protest the call, but the linesman resolutely pointed his flag at the cornerflag. Tomas Illescas ran over to the corner to take the kick. After 12 minutes, Guillermo Mariano mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Venezuela and the Scorpions -MM- players grew even worse after the yellow card. After 13 played minutes Venezuela got a freekick which was hit by Guillermo Mariano. 16 minutes into the game, Venezuela's Tomas Illescas nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Walter Zenga made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 1-1. Tomas Illescas might have been able to make a better finish in the 22nd minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Walter Zenga. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Tomas Illescas ran back to his position shaking his head. In the 24th match minute, Scorpions -MM- was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Fabian Mihuț to maneuver through the defense. Jonathan Ferrant made a fantastic save in the 26th minute, when Octav Vătăşel sent off a good shot on target. After 28 minutes of play, Scorpions -MM-'s Augustin Vergulescu made it 2-1 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Jonathan Ferrant was left in no man's land by his defense there! An unexpectedly hard shot by Tomas Illescas in the 34th minute of play forced Scorpions -MM-'s goalkeeper Walter Zenga to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 35th minute of the match Venezuela got a corner. Scorpions -MM-'s goalie ran out to the linesman to protest the call, but the linesman resolutely pointed his flag at the cornerflag. Tomas Illescas ran over to the corner to take the kick. A well-hit corner resulted in Jose Correa heading the ball towards the goal, but to his dismay he misdirected it and missed the goal completely. Jose Correa's late challenge caught a Scorpions -MM-'s player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Jose Correa helped the player get up and apologised. Scorpions -MM- made a substitution. Traian Uzuneanu replaced Dan Tinu. Venezuela's Patricio Costa got a good chance for a goal in the 39th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Fabian Mihuț made in the 43rd minute of the game a quick throw-in and Octav Vătăşel immediately put the ball in play. Jonathan Ferrant took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Augustin Vergulescu, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. When the referee blew for the end of the half the home team players were clearly happier, as they went in to the break leading 2-1.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Augustin Vergulescu was the one to do the kick off. After 52 played minutes Venezuela got a freekick which was hit by Alex Chicote. In the 52nd minute of the match Traian Uzuneanu shot from a long distance. The ball could have gone into the goal to the right of the goalkeeper, but Jonathan Ferrant showed his good shape when he easily got hold of the ball. The audience thought a goal was coming when Tomas Illescas got free with Walter Zenga in the 58th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. When the match had gone on for 61 minutes, Augustin Vergulescu put it in 3-1 from a short distance just to the right of Jonathan Ferrant. Scorpions -MM- were furious when Dorinel Munteanu was red carded, 72 minutes into the game, but the referee dismissed their protests. A collision led to Scorpions -MM- getting a freekick after 73 minutes play. Dorinel Munteanu hit a great ball. If Traian Uzuneanu had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 75th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After a rather tough play, Scorpions -MM-'s Fabian Mihuț got a free kick in the 77th minute. In the 78th minute of the match Tomas Illescas sent off a long shot with destination to the right of the goalkeeper, but Walter Zenga skillfully saved the ball. Jonathan Ferrant didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Augustin Vergulescu went, in the 80th minute, to the upper right corner, 4-1 was the resulting score. Traian Uzuneanu fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 92nd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Jonathan Ferrant having to interfere. Guillermo Mariano was astounded when the referee showed him the red card after a seemingly innocent challenge, 95 minutes into the match. A collision led to Venezuela getting a freekick after 96 minutes play. Guillermo Mariano hit a great ball. Scorpions -MM-'s fans were exulted and cheered after their team won in a match that could easily have gone the other way.