Challenge

Ciudad de Batán
Spectators: 41 (Terracing: 32, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Cassius Byrne got the match started through his kick off. AC Batán's Ni Le Zheng played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Cassius Byrne in the 7th minute of play. Ni Le Zheng made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Cassius Byrne in the 12th minute of play. In the 18th match minute, AC Batán was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Enzo-Nicolás Perez to maneuver through the defense. After some careless play in the USA defense, Acácio Nogueira kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Marco Day. The USA fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Marco Day should have stopped the shot. Ni Le Zheng took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Monty Rogers, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. 33 minutes into the match, Cassius Byrne notched a goal, 2-1, to the right of AC Batán's Ni Le Zheng. Ni Le Zheng was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. Ni Le Zheng 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 37th minute.

The wind increased when Acácio Nogueira made the kick off in the second half. 50 minutes into the match, AC Batán's goalkeeper Ni Le Zheng had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Cassius Byrne. In the 52nd minute Cassius Byrne shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Ni Le Zheng saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. 56 minutes into the match, AC Batán's goalkeeper Ni Le Zheng had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Cassius Byrne. In the 69th minute, USA's Monty Rogers ran free of his marker and smoothly shot the ball into the goal behind Ni Le Zheng. Ni Le Zheng yelled at his defense, as they had left him out to dry. 2-2. USA made a substitution. Sam Campbell replaced Cassius Byrne. Acácio Nogueira might have been able to make a better finish in the 73rd minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Marco Day. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Acácio Nogueira ran back to his position shaking his head. USA's Marco Day played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Acácio Nogueira in the 73rd minute of play. With his leg Ni Le Zheng managed to avoid a goal in the 76thth minute, when USA's Monty Rogers fired away a shot with a lot of spin towards his right hand side. In the 78th minute Jenson Smith shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Ni Le Zheng saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. The crowd rose to their feet as USA's Monty Rogers slotted home a wonderful shot that went in to the left of Ni Le Zheng. That made the score 2-3 after 85 minutes of play. AC Batán made a substitution. Cristoforo Di Ruscio replaced José Carlos da Silveira. USA made a substitution. Khalid Parry replaced Monty Rogers. In the 93rd minute Sam Campbell shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Ni Le Zheng saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. When the match was over USA could go home with a victory in their luggage, having controlled the game far better than AC Batán throughout the match.