Challenge

Queen Arena
Spectators: 42 (Terracing: 32, Seating: 10, 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. Venezuela's Jonathan Ferrant proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 3rd minute of the match, managed to save Venezuela from getting a goal against them. With a little luck, Venezuela's Jonathan Ferrant got control of the ball when Victor Piţurcă tried to sneak it across the goal line. 5 minutes into the game, Victor Piţurcă recieved a splendid long ball, split the defenders, and gently placed the ball to the left of Jonathan Ferrant. Victor Piţurcă showed that you don't have to tear a hole in the net to score, 1-0. An unexpectedly hard shot by Tomas Illescas in the 8th minute of play forced Emerald's goalkeeper Nichifor Nicolae to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. A collision led to Venezuela getting a freekick after 10 minutes play. Rigoberto Mina hit a great ball. Jonathan Ferrant made an important save on a dangerous shot by Julio Iglesias in the 11th minute. Patricio Costa fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 17th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Nichifor Nicolae having to interfere. In the 20th minute Patricio Costa shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Nichifor Nicolae saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Jonathan Ferrant made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Victor Piţurcă in the 21st minute of play. Venezuela's Patricio Costa got a good chance for a goal in the 22nd minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. The audience thought a goal was coming when Victor Piţurcă got free with Jonathan Ferrant in the 24th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Nichifor Nicolae showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Tomas Illescas in the 30th minute of the match. Venezuela's Jonathan Ferrant proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 32nd minute of the match, managed to save Venezuela from getting a goal against them. An unexpected shot in the 33rd minute by Victor Piţurcă got the crowd on their feet, but to their dismay it went out on the left side. Jonathan Ferrant made a fantastic save in the 39th minute, when Victor Piţurcă sent off a good shot on target. Jonathan Ferrant took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Gabriel Vermeşan, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 46th minute Emerald were awarded a corner. Julio Iglesias went to the cornerflag to take it. Af the end of the first half the score was 2-0. The first half had gone as expected for the home team.

Emerald made a substitution. Ioan Logofătu replaced Julio Iglesias. The wind increased when Victor Piţurcă made the kick off in the second half. Jonathan Ferrant showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Victor Piţurcă, who was totally free with the ball in the 54th minute. After having played for 56 minutes, Victor Piţurcă managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Emerald's supporters crossed their fingers, but Victor Piţurcă was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. In the 61st minute, 朱风俊 hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. 66 minutes into the match, Victor Piţurcă notched a goal, 4-0, 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. In the 68th minute Victor Piţurcă shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Jonathan Ferrant saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Jaime Carioca made a great header on Emerald's corner, it was just that Venezuela's Jonathan Ferrant managed to reach the ball for a save. Tomas Illescas might have been able to make a better finish in the 73rd minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Nichifor Nicolae. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Tomas Illescas ran back to his position shaking his head. With a little luck, Emerald's Nichifor Nicolae got control of the ball when Tomas Illescas tried to sneak it across the goal line. After having played for 77 minutes, Tomas Illescas managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Venezuela's supporters crossed their fingers, but Tomas Illescas was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Nichifor Nicolae made an important save on a dangerous shot by Tomas Illescas in the 80th minute. After some careless play in the Venezuela defense, Victor Piţurcă kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Jonathan Ferrant. The Venezuela fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Jonathan Ferrant should have stopped the shot. After a rather tough play, Venezuela's Jose Correa got a free kick in the 92nd minute. 94 minutes into the game, Guillermo Mariano threw the ball into play from the sideline. Emerald's Jaime Carioca quickly snatched the ball and retained possesion. If Victor Piţurcă had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 95th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead.