Challenge

Joaquin muñoz
Spectators: 43 (Terracing: 33, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) The mood of the audience was pleasant when Cassius Byrne made the kick off which started today's match. In the 4th minute Edward Mcdonald shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Ilkka Markkula saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Marco Day made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Podador Raheiro in the 5th minute of play. Podador Raheiro might have been able to make a better finish in the 7th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Marco Day. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Podador Raheiro ran back to his position shaking his head. Ilkka Markkula made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Edward Mcdonald in the 11th minute of play. Jenson Smith took the ball and in the 13 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Ilkka Markkula. Ilkka Markkula dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 0-1. Cassius Byrne fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 17th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Ilkka Markkula having to interfere. Ilkka Markkula 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 20th minute. Podador Raheiro might have been able to make a better finish in the 21st minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Marco Day. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Podador Raheiro ran back to his position shaking his head. In the 21st minute of the match, Podador Raheiro tried to roll the ball into the goal by the right post, but Marco Day saw his intentions and got control of the ball before it passed the line. Ilkka Markkula 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 27th minute. Ilkka Markkula came out of the goal in the 27th minute to try and stop a shot by USA's Cassius Byrne. But to his dismay, Cassius Byrne quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 0-2. An unexpectedly hard shot by Cassius Byrne in the 32nd minute of play forced Club Deportes Santa Cruz's goalkeeper Ilkka Markkula to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Ilkka Markkula took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Edward Mcdonald, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 37th minute, Monty Rogers left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The USA fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 0-3. After 43 played minutes USA got a freekick which was hit by Diego Bradley. The Club Deportes Santa Cruz players were disheartened as they walked off the pitch after the first half. USA were winning 0-3.

54 minutes into the game, Hüseyin Rahmi Toper was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Club Deportes Santa Cruz's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave USA the free kick. Hüseyin Rahmi Toper hit a great freekick 54 minutes into the match. An unexpectedly hard shot by Monty Rogers in the 55th minute of play forced Club Deportes Santa Cruz's goalkeeper Ilkka Markkula to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. An unexpectedly hard shot by Edward Mcdonald in the 59th minute of play forced Club Deportes Santa Cruz's goalkeeper Ilkka Markkula to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 60th minute Yan Zhi Chuan shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Marco Day saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Club Deportes Santa Cruz's attentive Shi Yuan managed to snatch the ball when Diego Bradley made a throw-in in the 67th minute of the game. An unexpectedly hard shot by Monty Rogers in the 81st minute of play forced Club Deportes Santa Cruz's goalkeeper Ilkka Markkula to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. A collision led to Club Deportes Santa Cruz getting a freekick after 84 minutes play. Eduardo Elia hit a great ball. USA's Marco Baker was substituted for Edward Mcdonald. After a rather tough play, Club Deportes Santa Cruz's Eduardo Elia got a free kick in the 86th minute. Hüseyin Rahmi Toper received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 89th minute. Marco Day tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. After some fancy dribbling in the 96th minute, Khalid Parry managed to get in a good position for a shot. USA's supporters rose to their feet, but Khalid Parry was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Ilkka Markkula breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. When the match was over USA could go home with a victory in their luggage, having controlled the game far better than Club Deportes Santa Cruz throughout the match.