Challenge

CARDINAL STADIUM
Spectators: 41 (Terracing: 32, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Tomas Illescas took the kick off in the first half of the match. In the 4th minute, Jose Correa hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Ovidiu Moțoc kicked well hit freekick during the 10th minute of the match. Venezuela's Patricio Costa quite brazenly broke a throw-in by Ovidiu Moțoc, made in the 12th minute of the game. Patricio Costa fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 13th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Edgar Gurlui having to interfere. Marian Macrea got a throw-in 16 minutes in the game and the ball was received by Claudiu Gioagă. Sorin Unchiaşu made in the 18th minute of the game a sloppy throw-in which Ovidiu Moțoc however managed to control. After some fancy dribbling in the 19th minute, Iulian Ghionea managed to get in a good position for a shot. C Ａ R D I N Ａ L's supporters rose to their feet, but Iulian Ghionea was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Jonathan Ferrant breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. If Tomas Illescas had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 22nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Jonathan Venegas kicked well hit freekick during the 24th minute of the match. In the 25th minute of the match Claudiu Gioagă 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. A hard shot 29 in the game by Sorin Chihaia from a close distance when the talented Jonathan Ferrant managed to make a qualified save. Venezuela's players were relieved. 30 minutes into the match, Venezuela's goalkeeper Jonathan Ferrant had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Gigel Nichita. When Patricio Costa came up free with the goalie in the 36th minute, the Venezuela fans jumped to their feet. But the shot missed the goal by a fraction of an inch, and the fans sat back down disappointed that Patricio Costa couldn't finish the play. If Sorin Chihaia had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 44th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. 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 home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Sorin Chihaia was the one to do the kick off. In the 52nd minute, Tomas Illescas got an opportunity to score, but he didn't get a solid hit on the ball and ended up kicking it wide of the goal. Edgar Gurlui showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Tomas Illescas, who was totally free with the ball in the 60th minute. An unexpectedly hard shot by Tomas Illescas in the 63rd minute of play forced C Ａ R D I N Ａ L's goalkeeper Edgar Gurlui to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Jonathan Ferrant stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Sorin Chihaia's shot from short distance in the 65th minute. Tomas Illescas sent away a hard shot on goal in the 71st minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Sorin Unchiaşu made in the 74th minute of the game a quick throw-in and Claudiu Gioagă immediately put the ball in play. After 86 minutes, Patricio Costa mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Venezuela and the C Ａ R D I N Ａ L players grew even worse after the yellow card. Patricio Costa hit a great freekick 86 minutes into the match. Tomas Illescas received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 88th minute. Edgar Gurlui tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Sorin Chihaia in the 91st minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Jonathan Ferrant prevented the ball from getting in the gole. Jonathan Ferrant took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Sorin Chihaia, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Neither set of supporters seemed pleased with the draw, but both teams had played equally well today.