Challenge

RFK Stadium
Spectators: 49 (Terracing: 38, Seating: 11, VIP seats: 0) Aldo Damasco started the match with the kick off in front of an excited audience. The crowd rose to their feet as Monty Rogers kicked a wonderful shot that went in to the left of a diving Avram Popoiu. That made the score 1-0 in the 3 minute of play. 6 minutes into the match, USA's goal looked a bit too open when Aldo Damasco came free, but Marco Day reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 9th minute USA were awarded a corner. Cassius Byrne went to the cornerflag to take it. USA's Jacob May was first on the ball when the corner was shot and he dangerously headed the ball towards goal, but Avram Popoiu in the goal jumped up to prevent it from getting in. Deportivo Damasco F.C.'s Avram Popoiu proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 13th minute of the match, managed to save Deportivo Damasco F.C. from getting a goal against them. In the 14th match minute, USA was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Edward Mcdonald to maneuver through the defense. Aldo Damasco received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 15th minute. Marco Day tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. 17 minutes into the match, Deportivo Damasco F.C.'s goal looked a bit too open when Cassius Byrne came free, but Avram Popoiu reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Cassius Byrne in the 17th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Avram Popoiu prevented the ball from getting in the gole. 18 minutes into the game, Deportivo Damasco F.C.'s Aldo Damasco nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Marco Day made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 1-1. Avram Popoiu made an important save on a dangerous shot by Cassius Byrne in the 26th minute. USA's Marco Day played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Aldo Damasco in the 38th minute of play. In the 38thth minute of the game Aldo Damasco 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. Marco Day took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Vladimir Couto, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. With an all-out effort, USA's Avram Popoiu threw himself towards the right post 41 minutes into the match and grabbed hold of the ball from Monty Rogers, which otherwise would have been placed in the net. After a very even first half the match was still tied. The players went to their respective dressing rooms to discuss the tactics for the second half.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Cassius Byrne to strike the kick off in the second half. 54 minutes into the match, Deportivo Damasco F.C.'s goal looked a bit too open when Monty Rogers came free, but Avram Popoiu reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 58th minute Monty Rogers shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Avram Popoiu saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Deportivo Damasco F.C. made a substitution. Tiadoro Cores replaced Guaberto Ramone. Deportivo Damasco F.C.'s attentive Bonifaco Montoya managed to snatch the ball when Diego Bradley made a throw-in in the 65th minute of the game. Marco Day made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Guilherme Sarandeses in the 69th minute of play. Avram Popoiu made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Monty Rogers in the 70th minute of play. In the 74th match minute, Deportivo Damasco F.C. was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Sten Paulin to maneuver through the defense. After some careless play in the Deportivo Damasco F.C. defense, Sam Campbell kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Avram Popoiu. The Deportivo Damasco F.C. fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Avram Popoiu should have stopped the shot. USA's Marco Baker was substituted for Edward Mcdonald. After 88 minutes Deportivo Damasco F.C.'s defender was forced to head the ball over the line for a corner. It was Jenson Smith who took care of the corner kick. The corner ended in Jenson Smith almost managing to get the ball behind the net, but Deportivo Damasco F.C.'s Avram Popoiu did a great save. Sam Campbell scored 3-1 in the 92nd match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Avram Popoiu, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. USA's Marco Day played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Tiadoro Cores in the 95th minute of play. Deportivo Damasco F.C.'s attacker deliberately struck the ball against an opponent to win a corner for his team. The corner was taken by Tiadoro Cores in the 96th minute. After taking down the ball on Deportivo Damasco F.C.'s corner Vladimir Couto fired away a hard shot, but the defenders efficiently covered the most dangerous angles and Marco Day quite easily take care of the ball. The referee blew his whistle, and the match came to a close. The players exchanged shirts and headed down the tunnel. The USA fans cheered their team off the field, for while Deportivo Damasco F.C. had put up a good fight, they were unable to come out of the game with any points to show for their effort.