Challenge

RFK Stadium
Spectators: 49 (Terracing: 38, Seating: 11, VIP seats: 0) Ripa FC's Franz Grassme started the match with a crisp pass. The crowd had been anticipating this game for weeks and the excitement in the stadium was easily visible. Ripa FC's Aldo Mannie played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Monty Rogers in the 4th minute of play. Marco Day showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Ricardo Bochini in the 7th minute of the match. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Ricardo Bochini in the 7th 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. Thanks to some nice moves Cassius Byrne could shoot a difficult shot in the 8th minute, which Aldo Mannie however easily saved by the left post. Ricardo Bochini'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 9th minute of play. When Franz Grassme came up free with the goalie in the 10th minute, the Ripa FC fans jumped to their feet. But the shot missed the goal by a fraction of an inch, and the fans sat back down disappointed that Franz Grassme couldn't finish the play. In the 12th match minute, Ripa FC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Placido Pero to maneuver through the defense. 13 minutes into the match, USA's Cassius Byrne sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Aldo Mannie narrowly saved just below the crossbar. After 14 played minutes USA got a freekick which was hit by Monty Rogers. An unexpectedly hard shot by Ricardo Bochini in the 15th minute of play forced USA's goalkeeper Marco Day to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. An unexpectedly hard shot by Monty Rogers in the 19th minute of play forced Ripa FC's goalkeeper Aldo Mannie to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Smith Wigglesworth sent away a hard shot on goal in the 24th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After 25 played minutes USA got a freekick which was hit by Fabian Brown. In the 26th minute Ricardo Bochini 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. Aldo Mannie showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Monty Rogers in the 28th minute of the match. Aldo Mannie didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Edward Mcdonald went, in the 29th minute, to the upper right corner, 1-0 was the resulting score. 33 minutes had been played when some careless play by Ripa FC's defense caused the ball to cross the line for a corner. Cassius Byrne was slow to take the kick. During this time USA's players had a chance to rest. The corner ended in Jenson Smith almost managing to get the ball behind the net, but Ripa FC's Aldo Mannie did a great save. An unexpectedly hard shot by Monty Rogers in the 39th minute of play forced Ripa FC's goalkeeper Aldo Mannie to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. 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. Monty Rogers blasted a shot towards the goal in the 54th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Aldo Mannie having to make a save. After 57 minutes of play, USA's Monty Rogers made it 3-0 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Aldo Mannie was left in no man's land by his defense there! In the 60th minute Cassius Byrne shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Aldo Mannie saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Aldo Mannie 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 62nd minute. Ripa FC made a substitution. Alvaro Jakes replaced Placido Pero. USA made a substitution. Sam Campbell replaced Cassius Byrne. 76 minutes into the match, Ripa FC's goal looked a bit too open when Monty Rogers came free, but Aldo Mannie reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 76th minute Monty Rogers shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Aldo Mannie saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. The crowd rose to their feet as Ripa FC's Gu Chang Peng slotted home a wonderful shot that went in to the left of Marco Day. That made the score 3-1 after 84 minutes of play. USA made a substitution. Khalid Parry replaced Monty Rogers. USA made a substitution. Marco Baker replaced Edward Mcdonald. An unexpectedly hard shot by Khalid Parry in the 97th minute of play forced Ripa FC's goalkeeper Aldo Mannie to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. 99 minutes into the match, Sam Campbell had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Aldo Mannie. Ripa FC's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Sam Campbell was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 4-1. Ripa FC's players left the field with heads hung low after losing a match that had been finely balanced throughout.