Challenge

Hanne-Sobek-Stadion
Spectators: 50 (Terracing: 38, Seating: 11, VIP seats: 1) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Wilhelm Nienhaus started the match with the kick off. In the 4th minute Wilhelm Nienhaus 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. When Zé Paulo da Silva came up free with the goalie in the 6th minute, the Hertha 1969 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 Zé Paulo da Silva couldn't finish the play. An unexpectedly hard shot by Cassius Byrne in the 7th minute of play forced Hertha 1969's goalkeeper Rune Jarstein to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 11th 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: 0-1. 15 minutes into the match, USA's goalkeeper Marco Day had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Nils Hovermann. Nils Hovermann who was well placed in front of the goal fired away a dangerous shot that in the 20thth minute tested the skills of Marco Day when he managed to save the team from getting behind. Hertha 1969's Rune Jarstein played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Monty Rogers in the 25th minute of play. 26 minutes into the match, Cassius Byrne notched a goal, 0-2, to the right of Hertha 1969's Rune Jarstein. Rune Jarstein was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. In the 35th minute, Cassius Byrne got an opportunity to score, but he didn't get a solid hit on the ball and ended up kicking it wide of the goal. Marco Day made a fantastic save in the 37th minute, when Gigel Elenescu sent off a good shot on target. Marco Day took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Wilhelm Nienhaus, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Marco Day took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Zé Paulo da Silva, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. 44 minutes into the match, USA's goal looked a bit too open when Zé Paulo da Silva came free, but Marco Day reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Marco Day stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Wilhelm Nienhaus's shot from short distance in the 47th minute.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Cassius Byrne to make the kick off. Rune Jarstein made an important save on a dangerous shot by Cassius Byrne in the 54th minute. Marco Day took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Zé Paulo da Silva, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. If Cassius Byrne had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 58th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. 60 minutes into the match, Hertha 1969's goal looked a bit too open when Edward Mcdonald came free, but Rune Jarstein reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Monty Rogers fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 63rd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Rune Jarstein having to interfere. If Gigel Elenescu had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 64th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. USA made a substitution. Sam Campbell replaced Cassius Byrne. The audience was convinced that Zé Paulo da Silva's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Marco Day was relentless in the 67th minute of the game. With a little luck, Hertha 1969's Rune Jarstein got control of the ball when Sam Campbell tried to sneak it across the goal line. With a little luck, Hertha 1969's Rune Jarstein got control of the ball when Sam Campbell tried to sneak it across the goal line. After having played for 73 minutes, Nils Hovermann managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Hertha 1969's supporters crossed their fingers, but Nils Hovermann was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. An unexpectedly hard shot by Zé Paulo da Silva in the 81st minute of play forced USA's goalkeeper Marco Day to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 89th minute, Sam Campbell reached a very good position and smashed the ball with a huge effort into the net, just to the left of Rune Jarstein. The goal made the score 1-3. 92 minutes into the match, Hertha 1969's goalkeeper Rune Jarstein had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Marco Baker. After some fancy dribbling in the 93rd minute, Marco Baker managed to get in a good position for a shot. USA's supporters rose to their feet, but Marco Baker was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Rune Jarstein breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick.