Challenge

Marcelo Gallardo
Spectators: 41 (Terracing: 32, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Cassius Byrne took the kick off in the first half of the match. If Lauro Moreira had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 4th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. Marco Day made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Lauro Moreira in the 4th minute of play. In the 11th minute Monty Rogers shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Serafin Eate saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 12th minute of the match USA got a corner. Club Atletico Chusca's goalie ran out to the linesman to protest the call, but the linesman resolutely pointed his flag at the cornerflag. Cassius Byrne ran over to the corner to take the kick. In the 15th match minute, USA was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Zach Harrison to maneuver through the defense. After 15 played minutes, Club Atletico Chusca's Lauro Moreira shot from a long distance, and at first it looked like the ball was going into the goal, but the goalkeeper Marco Day came through and got his fingers on the ball before it flew over the goal line. He then quickly gripped the ball tighter before the forwards in Club Atletico Chusca reached it. 17 minutes into the match, USA's goalkeeper Marco Day had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Lauro Moreira. In the 19th minute, Club Atletico Chusca's Lauro Moreira ran free of his marker and smoothly shot the ball into the goal behind Marco Day. Marco Day yelled at his defense, as they had left him out to dry. 1-0. Serafin Eate showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Monty Rogers, who was totally free with the ball in the 23rd minute. Marco Day didn't succeed in stopping the ball in the 25th minute, which inside left pole to 2-0. 28 minutes into the match, USA's goalkeeper Marco Day had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Lauro Moreira. Serafin Eate made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Monty Rogers in the 30th minute of play. After 36 minutes of play, USA's Cassius Byrne made it 2-1 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Serafin Eate was left in no man's land by his defense there! Marco Day took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Aristides Santo, 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 away team seemed most concentrated when Lauro Moreira stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. The audience thought a goal was coming when Cassius Byrne got free with Serafin Eate in the 54th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. The supporters of Club Atletico Chusca booed when USA was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 55 match minutes in a wonderful position. Raphael Moore didn't get a good kick on the ball. When the match had gone on for 58 minutes, Cassius Byrne took a quick shot and it went in 2-2 without a chance for Serafin Eate to make any attempt to save it. Serafin Eate took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Monty Rogers, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. After a rather tough play, Club Atletico Chusca's Folke Överman got a free kick in the 66th minute. An unexpectedly hard shot by Lauro Moreira in the 72nd minute of play forced USA's goalkeeper Marco Day to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Cassius Byrne could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 77th minute of the match, but Serafin Eate made a huge save. Serafin Eate made a fantastic save in the 78th minute, when Cassius Byrne sent off a good shot on target. Serafin Eate made a fantastic save in the 82nd minute, when Edward Mcdonald sent off a good shot on target. 83 minutes into the match, Club Atletico Chusca's Lauro Moreira sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Marco Day narrowly saved just below the crossbar. USA's Khalid Parry was substituted for Monty Rogers. USA's Marco Baker was substituted for Edward Mcdonald. After 89 played minutes Club Atletico Chusca got a freekick which was hit by Lauro Moreira. In the 91st minute the ball was on its way in behind USA's goalkeeper Marco Day, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. After a defensive mix-up in USA's zone, Lauro Moreira stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Marco Day came out of the goal and Lauro Moreira tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. In the 96th minute Marco Baker shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Serafin Eate saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. USA were clearly unhappy with the draw, as they felt they had done enough to earn themselves a victory.