Challenge

Stade Mathieu-Curt
Spectators: 43 (Terracing: 33, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) Venezuela's Tomas Illescas 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. After a rather tough play, Avel Vat's Youri Djorkaeff got a free kick in the 4th minute. Danny Pasquier 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 5th minute. After 8 minutes of play, Avel Vat's Youri Djorkaeff made it 1-0 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! Sébastien Milliot made in the 11th minute of the game a quick throw-in and Youri Djorkaeff immediately put the ball in play. Jonathan Ferrant took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Guillaume Minier, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. A collision led to Venezuela getting a freekick after 16 minutes play. Jose Correa hit a great ball. In the 17th minute of the match Émilien Tessier 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. If Lilian Thuram had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 20th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Malcom Vrignon kicked well hit freekick during the 22nd minute of the match. Tomas Illescas struck a weak shot in the 23rd minute. Danny Pasquier didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Venezuela. Tomas Illescas's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Danny Pasquier read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 25th minute of play. 29 minutes into the match, Venezuela's goalkeeper Jonathan Ferrant had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Youri Djorkaeff. Jonathan Ferrant didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Guillaume Minier went, in the 30th minute, to the upper right corner, 2-0 was the resulting score. If Guillaume Minier had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 34th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Jonathan Ferrant showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Edmond Kubiak, who was totally free with the ball in the 37th minute. Jonathan Ferrant showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Guillaume Minier in the 41st minute of the match. Venezuela's Jonathan Ferrant played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Youri Djorkaeff in the 42nd minute of play. In the 44th minute Tomas Illescas shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Danny Pasquier saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 45th minute, Guillaume Minier hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. In a very dangerous position, a player in Avel Vat fell when an opponent tried to get the ball from him in the 46th minute. Penalty! 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.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Youri Djorkaeff made a kick off. After 56 minutes, Youri Djorkaeff mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Avel Vat and the Venezuela players grew even worse after the yellow card. The supporters of Venezuela booed when Avel Vat was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 56 match minutes in a wonderful position. Youri Djorkaeff didn't get a good kick on the ball. In the 59thth minute of the game Tomas Illescas who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Avel Vat's Danny Pasquier was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. Tomas Illescas recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 61st minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. In the 62nd minute, Rigoberto Mina hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. The throw-in from Bilal Moutte in the 65th minute of the game was unfortunally taken care of by Venezuela's Patricio Costa. An unexpectedly hard shot by Youri Djorkaeff in the 70th minute of play forced Venezuela's goalkeeper Jonathan Ferrant to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Lilian Thuram kicked well hit freekick during the 78th minute of the match. The supporters of Venezuela booed when Avel Vat was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 81 match minutes in a wonderful position. Edmond Kubiak didn't get a good kick on the ball. Patricio Costa recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 84th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Jonathan Ferrant showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Youri Djorkaeff, who was totally free with the ball in the 86th minute. 87 minutes into the game, Bilal Moutte was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Avel Vat's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Venezuela the free kick. Danny Pasquier made an important save on a dangerous shot by Tomas Illescas in the 93rd minute. The referee blew his whistle, and the match came to a close. The players exchanged shirts and headed down the tunnel. The Avel Vat fans cheered their team off the field, for while Venezuela had put up a good fight, they were unable to come out of the game with any points to show for their effort.