Challenge

Bucura
Spectators: 44 (Terracing: 34, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when Özen Mukremin kicked off to start the match. The audience was convinced that Cassius Byrne's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Nechifor Zeciu was relentless in the 4th minute of the game. In the 8th minute, Stasio Lichniak hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. An unexpectedly hard shot by Monty Rogers in the 10th minute of play forced Bucura's goalkeeper Nechifor Zeciu to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. The throw-in from Diego Bradley in the 13th minute of the game was unfortunally taken care of by Bucura's Aresti Tello. Marco Day showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Özen Mukremin, who was totally free with the ball in the 13th minute. Bucura were awarded a corner in the 15th minute after USA's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Corneliu Cănănău took the corner. The corner led Bucura's Corneliu Cănănău to fire away a dangerous shot which Marco Day despite some difficulties managed to get hold on the ball. Bucura's Nechifor Zeciu played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Cassius Byrne in the 27th minute of play. Nechifor Zeciu 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 29th minute. Özen Mukremin struck a weak shot in the 30th minute. Marco Day didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Bucura. Monty Rogers received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 32nd minute. Nechifor Zeciu tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. 34 minutes into the match, USA's goalkeeper Marco Day had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Özen Mukremin. Nechifor Zeciu took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Cassius Byrne, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Nechifor Zeciu made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Monty Rogers in the 40th minute of play. When Monty Rogers came up free with the goalie in the 40th minute, the USA fans jumped to their feet. But the shot missed the goal by a fraction of an inch, and the fans sat back down disappointed that Monty Rogers couldn't finish the play. When Cassius Byrne fell near the penalty area in the 41st minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored USA's protests and gave Cassius Byrne a yellow card for diving instead. A collision led to USA getting a freekick after 42 minutes play. Cassius Byrne hit a great ball. Özen Mukremin fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 44th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Marco Day having to interfere. After a very even first half the match was still tied. The players went to their respective dressing rooms to discuss the tactics for the second half.

Bucura made a substitution. Mikolaj Roman replaced Erasmo Neiva. The throw-in from Jenson Smith in the 53rd minute of the game was unfortunally taken care of by Bucura's Yu Yang Chao. Cassius Byrne's shot when he came free in front of the goal in the 57thth minute, Nechifor Zeciu skillfully showed off with a save to what seemed to be an obvious goal. Cassius Byrne recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 60th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Bucura's Yu Yang Chao got a good chance for a goal in the 64th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. The audience thought a goal was coming when Monty Rogers got free with Nechifor Zeciu in the 69th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. In the 70th minute Cassius Byrne shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Nechifor Zeciu saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Cassius Byrne's shot straight on target was not completely harmless. The ball had pretty good speed, but Nechifor Zeciu firmly grabbed it by the left post. With a little luck, Bucura's Nechifor Zeciu got control of the ball when Edward Mcdonald tried to sneak it across the goal line. Marco Day came out of the goal in the 76th minute to try and stop a shot by Bucura's Carlomagno Nunez. But to his dismay, Carlomagno Nunez quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 1-0. USA made a substitution. Sam Campbell replaced Cassius Byrne. USA's Marco Baker was substituted for Edward Mcdonald. Through an outstanding action, after 81 minutes, Nechifor Zeciu successfully got his hands on the ball before it slid into the goal at the right post. Marco Day showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Nistor Cismarescu in the 84th minute of the match. 84 minutes into the match, Nistor Cismarescu notched a goal, 2-0, to the right of USA's Marco Day. Marco Day was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. Sam Campbell fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 88th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Nechifor Zeciu having to interfere. Nechifor Zeciu took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Marco Baker, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. If Carlomagno Nunez had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 97th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead.