Challenge

Gasba Arena
Spectators: 43 (Terracing: 33, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) After 2 played minutes Urbs LC got a freekick which was hit by Arrigo Calcio. If Monty Rogers had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 3rd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Pastor Ihazintu might have been able to make a better finish in the 5th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Marco Day. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Pastor Ihazintu ran back to his position shaking his head. An unexpectedly hard shot by Pastor Ihazintu in the 5th minute of play forced USA's goalkeeper Marco Day to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. A collision led to Urbs LC getting a freekick after 10 minutes play. Diego Lusi hit a great ball. Eugenio Santoro showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Cassius Byrne, who was totally free with the ball in the 12th minute. The audience thought a goal was coming when Gilberto Hats got free with Marco Day in the 21st minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Cassius Byrne in the 31st minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Eugenio Santoro prevented the ball from getting in the gole. When the match clock showed 31 minutes, the score became 0-1 when Cassius Byrne sped through Urbs LC's defense and sent away a curving shot that went into the net to the right of Eugenio Santoro. After 34 minutes of play, Urbs LC's Pastor Ihazintu made it 1-1 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Marco Day was left in no man's land by his defense there! Gilberto Hats's shot straight on target was not completely harmless. The ball had pretty good speed, but Marco Day firmly grabbed it by the left post. 44 minutes into the match, USA's goalkeeper Marco Day had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Gilberto Hats. After the first half the score was level. The break gave the players a chance to catch their breath, whilst the managers went over the tactics with them again.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Cassius Byrne made a kick off. Marco Day showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Pastor Ihazintu in the 51st minute of the match. Cezary Tusk kicked well hit freekick during the 58th minute of the match. If Pastor Ihazintu had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 61st minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. In the 61st minute the ball was on its way in behind USA's goalkeeper Marco Day, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. Urbs LC made a substitution. Edoardo Zuccarini replaced Diego Lusi. The audience was convinced that Monty Rogers's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Eugenio Santoro was relentless in the 66th minute of the game. A collision led to USA getting a freekick after 69 minutes play. Jenson Smith hit a great ball. After a rather tough play, USA's Jenson Smith got a free kick in the 70th minute. In the 74th minute USA were awarded a corner. Monty Rogers went to the cornerflag to take it. The corner led USA's Zach Harrison to fire away a dangerous shot which Eugenio Santoro despite some difficulties managed to get hold on the ball. Eugenio Santoro was in the perfect position, and the defense had done a good job marking him, but Zach Harrison showcased his skills and made a perfect shot to score 2-2 in the 74 minute of play. Urbs LC's Anselmo Papetti was substituted for Arrigo Calcio. USA's Marco Baker was substituted for Edward Mcdonald. Pastor Ihazintu might have been able to make a better finish in the 82nd minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Marco Day. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Pastor Ihazintu ran back to his position shaking his head. After some fancy dribbling in the 82nd minute, Pastor Ihazintu managed to get in a good position for a shot. Urbs LC's supporters rose to their feet, but Pastor Ihazintu was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Marco Day breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. If Marco Baker had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 88th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Sam Campbells short, quick shot in the 91stth minute got Eugenio Santoro to make great effort and bar the ball away from getting in. USA's players went to the stands to thank the travelling support. The fan's backing had helped spurr the team on to a fine performance that won them the match.