Challenge

Queen Arena
Spectators: 42 (Terracing: 32, 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. With a little luck, Venezuela's Jonathan Ferrant got control of the ball when Victor Piţurcă tried to sneak it across the goal line. After some fancy dribbling in the 4th minute, Tomas Illescas managed to get in a good position for a shot. Venezuela's supporters rose to their feet, but Tomas Illescas was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Nichifor Nicolae breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. The crowd rose to their feet as Victor Piţurcă kicked a wonderful shot that went in to the left of a diving Jonathan Ferrant. That made the score 1-0 in the 6 minute of play. Jonathan Ferrant didn't succeed in stopping the ball in the 10th minute, which inside left pole to 2-0. In the 16th minute, Victor Piţurcă made a precise shot to the right of Jonathan Ferrant. Venezuela's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 3-0. Venezuela's defense didn't have a chance, in the 20th minute, when Victor Piţurcă scored to the left of an out of position Jonathan Ferrant, making the score, 4-0. In the 25th minute, Tomas Illescas ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Nichifor Nicolae was frozen by the shot and now it was 4-1. Emerald's Nichifor Nicolae played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Patricio Costa in the 28th minute of play. After a defensive mix-up in Emerald's zone, Tomas Illescas stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Nichifor Nicolae came out of the goal and Tomas Illescas tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. The audience was convinced that Tomas Illescas's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Nichifor Nicolae was relentless in the 34th minute of the game. Victor Piţurcă sent away a hard shot on goal in the 40th minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. A collision led to Venezuela getting a freekick after 41 minutes play. Guillermo Mariano hit a great ball. Venezuela's defense didn't have a chance, in the 44th minute, when Victor Piţurcă scored to the left of an out of position Jonathan Ferrant, making the score, 5-1. The away team players looked dejected as the walked off the pitch at half time. They had fought hard, but were still losing 5-1.

Emerald's Ioan Logofătu was substituted for Julio Iglesias. When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Victor Piţurcă made a kick off. 58 minutes into the match, Victor Piţurcă notched a goal, 6-1, to the right of Venezuela's Jonathan Ferrant. Jonathan Ferrant was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. When Venezuela's Tomas Illescas in the 63rd minute got a chance for a shot 63rd didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Emerald's goalie prevented a goal. Victor Piţurcă blasted a shot towards the goal in the 68th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Jonathan Ferrant having to make a save. Venezuela's Jonathan Ferrant played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Victor Piţurcă in the 68th minute of play. 76 minutes into the match, Venezuela's goal looked a bit too open when Victor Piţurcă came free, but Jonathan Ferrant reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Tomas Illescas could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 82nd minute of the match, but Nichifor Nicolae made a huge save. Jonathan Ferrant took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Victor Piţurcă, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Venezuela's players left the field with heads hung low after losing a match that had been finely balanced throughout.