Challenge

RFK Stadium
Spectators: 49 (Terracing: 38, Seating: 11, VIP seats: 0) If Ernesto Martini had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 3rd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. 12 minutes into the match, USA's goal looked a bit too open when Joel Hibai came free, but Marco Day reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Fedele Panza kicked well hit freekick during the 13th minute of the match. Cristoforo Tammaro took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Monty Rogers, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Cristoforo Tammaro made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Monty Rogers in the 24th minute of play. After some fancy dribbling in the 25th minute, Cassius Byrne managed to get in a good position for a shot. USA's supporters rose to their feet, but Cassius Byrne was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Cristoforo Tammaro breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. 27 minutes into the match, Lunatics of Arianrhod's goal looked a bit too open when Jenson Smith came free, but Cristoforo Tammaro reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. USA's Marco Day played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Joel Hibai in the 28th minute of play. Cristoforo Tammaro made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Monty Rogers in the 32nd minute of play. If Cassius Byrne had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 33rd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. An unexpectedly hard shot by Joel Hibai in the 35th minute of play forced USA's goalkeeper Marco Day to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Joel Hibai in the 37th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Marco Day prevented the ball from getting in the gole. In the 37thth minute of the game Joel Hibai who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but USA's Marco Day was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. Cristoforo Tammaro made a fantastic save in the 38th minute, when Edward Mcdonald sent off a good shot on target. The audience thought a goal was coming when Cassius Byrne got free with Cristoforo Tammaro in the 42nd minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Cristoforo Tammaro was in the perfect position, and the defense had done a good job marking him, but Cassius Byrne showcased his skills and made a perfect shot to score 1-0 in the 42 minute of play. Marco Day showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Joel Hibai in the 44th minute of the match. In the 46th minute of the match Lunatics of Arianrhod got a corner. USA's goalie ran out to the linesman to protest the call, but the linesman resolutely pointed his flag at the cornerflag. Joel Hibai ran over to the corner to take the kick. The corner went over the outstretched arms of USA's goalie and right to Fedele Panza. He fired away a shot at goal, but the shot had too much spin, and it went just outside the goal. USA's manager breathed a sigh of relief on the sidelines as his team had managed to escape an almost certain goal. Cristoforo Tammaro 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 47th minute. Cassius Byrne scored 2-0 in the 47th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Cristoforo Tammaro, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. Lunatics of Arianrhod made a substitution. Francesco Romino replaced Walter Giusti. No-one was surprised that the home team were leading 2-0 at half-time.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Cassius Byrne to make the kick off. After some careless play in the Lunatics of Arianrhod defense, Edward Mcdonald kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Cristoforo Tammaro. The Lunatics of Arianrhod fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Cristoforo Tammaro should have stopped the shot. After having played for 68 minutes, Dário Pereira managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Lunatics of Arianrhod's supporters crossed their fingers, but Dário Pereira was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. After 71 minutes, Joel Hibai mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Lunatics of Arianrhod and the USA players grew even worse after the yellow card. In the 71st minute, Joel Hibai hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Zach Harrison's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Cristoforo Tammaro read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 74th minute of play. Lunatics of Arianrhod's Cristoforo Tammaro played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Monty Rogers in the 75th minute of play. USA's Monty Rogers got a good chance for a goal in the 77th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. If Edward Mcdonald had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 82nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. Joel Hibai's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Marco Day read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 84th minute of play. Khalid Parry fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 94th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Cristoforo Tammaro having to interfere. USA walked away with a well-earned victory that was much celebrated by the crowd.