Challenge

RFK Stadium
Spectators: 47 (Terracing: 36, Seating: 11, VIP seats: 0) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Cassius Byrne took the kick off in the first half of the match. An unexpectedly hard shot by Fausto Rafe in the 5th minute of play forced USA's goalkeeper Marco Day to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 11th match minute, USA was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Koby Fletcher to maneuver through the defense. USA's Marco Day played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Kieran Listkowski in the 12th minute of play. Marco Day took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Son Banana, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. After some careless play in the USA defense, Son Banana kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Marco Day. The USA fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Marco Day should have stopped the shot. 24 minutes into the match, USA's goal looked a bit too open when Son Banana came free, but Marco Day reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Son Banana 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. 28 minutes had been played when some careless play by USA's defense caused the ball to cross the line for a corner. Kieran Listkowski was slow to take the kick. During this time Manfredi AFC's players had a chance to rest. The corner ended in Qiu Lin Yi almost managing to get the ball behind the net, but USA's Marco Day did a great save. In the 33rd minute of the match, Cassius Byrne got a very nice opportunity to score, but Roman Vachon was well-placed and pushed the ball away from the goal at the left post. Fausto Rafe fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 35th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Marco Day having to interfere. Roman Vachon made a fantastic save in the 38th minute, when Cassius Byrne sent off a good shot on target. Marco Day showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Fausto Rafe, who was totally free with the ball in the 41st minute. 45 minutes had been played when some careless play by Manfredi AFC'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. In the 47th minute of the match, Cassius Byrne got a very nice opportunity to score, but Roman Vachon was well-placed and pushed the ball away from the goal at the left post. 48 minutes had been played when some careless play by Manfredi AFC'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. At last the ball reached Jacob May at the corner, ending with a kick to difficult to stop for the goalkeeper of Manfredi AFC. 1-2. After the first half Manfredi AFC were leading 1-2. They had played with great self confidence throughout the first half and fully deserved their lead.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Son Banana was the one to do the kick off. Cassius Byrne sent away a hard shot on goal in the 58th minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. 58 minutes into the match, USA's Cassius Byrne sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Roman Vachon narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Roman Vachon took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Cassius Byrne, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Manfredi AFC's Uriel Cordarrel was substituted for Fausto Rafe. Manfredi AFC made a substitution. Filomeno Remir replaced Son Banana. Manfredi AFC's Guido Mikolas was substituted for Qiu Lin Yi. In the 67th minute of the match USA got a corner. Manfredi AFC's goalie ran out to the linesman to protest the call, but the linesman resolutely pointed his flag at the cornerflag. Cassius Byrne ran over to the corner to take the kick. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Cassius Byrne in the 68th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Roman Vachon saved Manfredi AFC from getting behind. With a little luck, USA's Marco Day got control of the ball when Filomeno Remir tried to sneak it across the goal line. If Sam Campbell had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 80th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Marco Baker received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 86th minute. Roman Vachon tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Roman Vachon took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Sam Campbell, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Roman Vachon didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Sam Campbell went, in the 88th minute, to the upper right corner, 2-2 was the resulting score. Filomeno Remir'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 92nd minute of play. If Khalid Parry had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 93rd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. An unexpectedly hard shot by Sam Campbell in the 95th minute of play forced Manfredi AFC's goalkeeper Roman Vachon to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Marco Day came out of the goal in the 96th minute to try and stop a shot by Manfredi AFC's Filomeno Remir. But to his dismay, Filomeno Remir quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 2-3. When the referee blew the final whistle jeers and boos were heard from the home team's supporters. They were angered to see USA lose a match they had controlled from the kick-off.