Challenge

Gran Parque Central
Spectators: 50 (Terracing: 38, Seating: 11, VIP seats: 1) Nacional's Grabiel Escorcia 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. Marco Day had great luck who in the 3rdth minute grab hold of the ball when Grabiel Escorcia from a short distance tried to put the ball inside the right post. The corner led Nacional's Xu Sha to fire away a dangerous shot which Marco Day despite some difficulties managed to get hold on the ball. Marco Day made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Grabiel Escorcia in the 6th minute of play. Joseph Gayoso was in a good position and managed to take a shot, but he missed just to the outside of the post. Nacional's Cristiano Aveiro played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Cassius Byrne in the 10th minute of play. In the 14th minute Cassius Byrne shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Cristiano Aveiro saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. An unexpectedly hard shot by Cassius Byrne in the 16th minute of play forced Nacional's goalkeeper Cristiano Aveiro to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Cristiano Aveiro showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Cassius Byrne, who was totally free with the ball in the 20th minute. An unexpectedly hard shot by Monty Rogers in the 23rd minute of play forced Nacional's goalkeeper Cristiano Aveiro to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. After some careless play in the Nacional defense, Cassius Byrne kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Cristiano Aveiro. The Nacional fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Cristiano Aveiro should have stopped the shot. After 27 minutes, Diego Bradley mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the USA and the Nacional players grew even worse after the yellow card. After 27 played minutes USA got a freekick which was hit by Diego Bradley. After a rather tough play, Nacional's José Luis Rodríguez got a free kick in the 30th minute. Marco Day showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Grabiel Escorcia, who was totally free with the ball in the 33rd minute. Marco Day took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Grabiel Escorcia, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. After 35 minutes of play, Nacional's Grabiel Escorcia made it 2-1 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Marco Day was left in no man's land by his defense there! Cristiano Aveiro made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Monty Rogers in the 39th minute of play. Af the end of the first half the score was 2-1. The first half had gone as expected for the home team.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Cassius Byrne was the one to do the kick off. Edward Mcdonald sent away a hard shot on goal in the 51st minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Cassius Byrne in the 62ndth minute had a little luck and got a chance for a shot in front of the goal. Without hesitation aimed to the right of Cristiano Aveiro, who managed to lunge to the right direction and made a save. Cristiano Aveiro made a fantastic save in the 64th minute, when Edward Mcdonald sent off a good shot on target. Nacional's Cristiano Aveiro played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Monty Rogers in the 70th minute of play. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Grabiel Escorcia in the 72nd managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Marco Day saved USA from getting behind. Cristiano Aveiro made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Cassius Byrne in the 73rd minute of play. USA's Marco Day played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Grabiel Escorcia in the 77th minute of play. USA made a substitution. Khalid Parry replaced Monty Rogers. USA's Marco Baker was substituted for Edward Mcdonald. Nacional's attacker deliberately struck the ball against an opponent to win a corner for his team. The corner was taken by Xu Sha in the 79th minute. The corner went over the outstretched arms of USA's goalie and right to Joseph Gayoso. He fired away a shot at goal, but the shot had too much spin, and it went just outside the goal. USA's manager breathed a sigh of relief on the sidelines as his team had managed to escape an almost certain goal. In the 83rd minute, Khalid Parry reached a very good position and smashed the ball with a huge effort into the net, just to the left of Cristiano Aveiro. The goal made the score 2-3. Nacional made a substitution. Ranolfo Piedrahita replaced Joseph Gayoso. Ekain Menendez fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 87th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Marco Day having to interfere. Nacional's Cristiano Aveiro played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Khalid Parry in the 91st minute of play. An unexpectedly hard shot by Sam Campbell in the 93rd minute of play forced Nacional's goalkeeper Cristiano Aveiro to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. 94 minutes into the match, USA's goal looked a bit too open when Ranolfo Piedrahita came free, but Marco Day reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 96th minute, USA's Khalid Parry dribbled the ball into the box and hit a shot with the outside of his foot, sending the keeper the wrong way. 2-4. When the final whistle sounded USA left the ground with the victory after a much better performance than Nacional.