Challenge

The Common
Spectators: 50 (Terracing: 38, Seating: 11, VIP seats: 1) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Tomas Illescas started the match with the kick off. Tomas Illescas fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 5th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Vinnie Small having to interfere. After 7 minutes, Martyn Lawson mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Clapham Comets F.C. and the Venezuela players grew even worse after the yellow card. In the 7th match minute, Clapham Comets F.C. was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Martyn Lawson to maneuver through the defense. In the 7th minute of the match Tomas Illescas sent off a long shot with destination to the right of the goalkeeper, but Vinnie Small skillfully saved the ball. After a rather tough play, Clapham Comets F.C.'s Vern Elwick got a free kick in the 8th minute. After some careless play in the Clapham Comets F.C. defense, Tomas Illescas kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Vinnie Small. The Clapham Comets F.C. fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Vinnie Small should have stopped the shot. Tomas Illescas sent away a hard shot on goal in the 22nd minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. Francesco Fabregas hit a great freekick 23 minutes into the match. 26 minutes into the game, Tomas Illescas cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 0-2. Vinnie Small was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. Vinnie Small took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Patricio Costa, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Camilo Gaos was astounded when the referee showed him the red card after a seemingly innocent challenge, 30 minutes into the match. After 30 minutes of play, the referee blew the whistle. It was a penalty for Venezuela! Hayden Hartley did an outstanding performance 33 minutes into the match, when he by himself got past the opposing team's defense and with a quick scored 1-2 to the right of an irritated Jonathan Ferrant in the goal. Patricio Costa didn't quite understand what happened when in the 37 minute of the game managed to get a great opportunity for a goal and then missed the goal by a feet. After some fancy dribbling in the 40th minute, Joshua Secada managed to get in a good position for a shot. Venezuela's supporters rose to their feet, but Joshua Secada was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Vinnie Small breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Barrie Elvins hit a great freekick 45 minutes into the match. The crowd was extremely unhappy with the home team's performance in the first half. They were losing 1-2.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Vern Elwick stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. 54 minutes into the match, Clapham Comets F.C.'s goal looked a bit too open when Salvador Gisbert came free, but Vinnie Small reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Jonathan Ferrant made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Vern Elwick in the 57th minute of play. Jose Correa kicked well hit freekick during the 58th minute of the match. Robert Thorne received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 59th minute. Jonathan Ferrant tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. 59 minutes into the game, Robert Thorne was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Clapham Comets F.C.'s manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Venezuela the free kick. In the 59th minute, Robert Thorne hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. The Clapham Comets F.C. fans' excitement grew in the 63rd match minute when Clapham Comets F.C.'s Vern Elwick looked to have a clear shot with the ball near the goal. The shot wasn't hard, but the ball still rolled over the goal line to make it 2-2 before the goalkeeper had a chance to intervene. In the 66th minute, Vern Elwick got an opportunity to score, but he didn't get a solid hit on the ball and ended up kicking it wide of the goal. Patricio Costa kicked well hit freekick during the 71st minute of the match. A sloppy throw-in by Piers Maloney in the 73rd minute of the game went astray and was snapped up by Venezuela's Jonathan Venegas. Jonathan Ferrant showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Vern Elwick, who was totally free with the ball in the 77th minute. A collision led to Clapham Comets F.C. getting a freekick after 77 minutes play. Barrie Elvins hit a great ball. After some fancy dribbling in the 80th minute, Patricio Costa managed to get in a good position for a shot. Venezuela's supporters rose to their feet, but Patricio Costa was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Vinnie Small breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Venezuela's attentive Jonathan Venegas managed to snatch the ball when Barrie Elvins made a throw-in in the 85th minute of the game. Martyn Lawson kicked well hit freekick during the 90th minute of the match. Jose Correa kicked well hit freekick during the 95th minute of the match. When the referee blew the final whistle, you could see the dissatisfaction in the Venezuela players' eyes. They were disappointed they hadn't taken more from the game.