Challenge

Blue Arena
Spectators: 40 (Terracing: 31, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when Cristinel Nicodim kicked off to start the match. In the 5th minute, Sebastian Mailat hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. In the 7th match minute, Venezuela was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Jose Correa to maneuver through the defense. After 12 played minutes Venezuela got a freekick which was hit by Patricio Costa. In the 14th minute the ball was on its way in behind BlueLionesse's goalkeeper Ilie Crainic, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. After 15 minutes BlueLionesse's defender was forced to head the ball over the line for a corner. It was Tomas Illescas who took care of the corner kick. In the 16th match minute, BlueLionesse was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Matthew Tielve to maneuver through the defense. When the match clock showed 21 minutes, the score became 1-0 when Cristinel Nicodim sped through Venezuela's defense and sent away a curving shot that went into the net to the right of Jonathan Ferrant. Jonathan Ferrant made an important save on a dangerous shot by Cristinel Nicodim in the 25th minute. Cristinel Nicodim's shot when he came free in front of the goal in the 27thth minute, Jonathan Ferrant skillfully showed off with a save to what seemed to be an obvious goal. Sebastian Mailat recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 30th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Patricio Costa charged in rather forcefully in the 33rd minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Patricio Costa the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. After 33 played minutes Venezuela got a freekick which was hit by Patricio Costa. Cristinel Nicodim who was well placed in front of the goal fired away a dangerous shot that in the 36thth minute tested the skills of Jonathan Ferrant when he managed to save the team from getting behind. With his leg Jonathan Ferrant managed to avoid a goal in the 36thth minute, when BlueLionesse's Cristinel Nicodim fired away a shot with a lot of spin towards his right hand side. A hard shot 38 in the game by Cristinel Nicodim from a close distance when the talented Jonathan Ferrant managed to make a qualified save. Venezuela's players were relieved. After 40 minutes, Tomas Illescas mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Venezuela and the BlueLionesse players grew even worse after the yellow card. Venezuela's Jonathan Ferrant played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Sebastian Mailat in the 45th minute of play.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Tomas Illescas to strike the kick off in the second half. Ilie Crainic made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Tomas Illescas in the 51st minute of play. The BlueLionesse fans' excitement grew in the 57th match minute when BlueLionesse's Sebastian Mailat 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 2-0 before the goalkeeper had a chance to intervene. Ilie Crainic made a fantastic save in the 61st minute, when Tomas Illescas sent off a good shot on target. Venezuela's Tomas Illescas was first on the ball when the corner was shot and he dangerously headed the ball towards goal, but Ilie Crainic in the goal jumped up to prevent it from getting in. If Mihail Albu had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 65th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. When BlueLionesse's Cristinel Nicodim in the 67th minute got a chance for a shot 67th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Venezuela's goalie prevented a goal. Jonathan Ferrant took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Octavian Isărescu, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. An unexpectedly hard shot by Cristinel Nicodim in the 70th minute of play forced Venezuela's goalkeeper Jonathan Ferrant to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. The corner went over the outstretched arms of Venezuela's goalie and right to Octavian Isărescu. He fired away a shot at goal, but the shot had too much spin, and it went just outside the goal. Venezuela's manager breathed a sigh of relief on the sidelines as his team had managed to escape an almost certain goal. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Cristinel Nicodim in the 73rd managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Jonathan Ferrant saved Venezuela from getting behind. In the 74th minute, Jose Correa hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Jonathan Ferrant took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Mihail Albu, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Cristinel Nicodim in the 81st managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Jonathan Ferrant saved Venezuela from getting behind. An unexpectedly hard shot by Octavian Isărescu in the 85th minute of play forced Venezuela's goalkeeper Jonathan Ferrant to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. 87 minutes had been played when some careless play by Venezuela's defense caused the ball to cross the line for a corner. Radu Pânzaru was slow to take the kick. During this time BlueLionesse's players had a chance to rest. The corner ended in Radu Pânzaru almost managing to get the ball behind the net, but Venezuela's Jonathan Ferrant did a great save. Jonathan Ferrant stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Cristinel Nicodim's shot from short distance in the 89th minute. Ilie Crainic made a fantastic save in the 91st minute, when Tomas Illescas sent off a good shot on target. Han Shi Chao charged in rather forcefully in the 92nd minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Han Shi Chao the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. After 92 played minutes BlueLionesse got a freekick which was hit by Han Shi Chao. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Cristinel Nicodim in the 95th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Jonathan Ferrant saved Venezuela from getting behind. There were very few away supporters still in the ground by the end of the match. Most of them had left early, disgusted by the way their team had been torn apart. BlueLionesse fully deserved thier win.