Challenge

RFK Stadium
Spectators: 45 (Terracing: 35, Seating: 10, 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. Leandro Soares'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 3rd minute of play. Fc Benefica were awarded a corner in the 4th minute after USA's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Leandro Soares took the corner. Mitchel Dijkstra made a fantastic save in the 8th minute, when Edward Mcdonald sent off a good shot on target. After some fancy dribbling in the 11th minute, Jens van Basten managed to get in a good position for a shot. Fc Benefica's supporters rose to their feet, but Jens van Basten was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Marco Day breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Mitchel Dijkstra made a fantastic save in the 18th minute, when Cassius Byrne sent off a good shot on target. The audience thought a goal was coming when Cassius Byrne got free with Mitchel Dijkstra in the 19th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Mitchel Dijkstra took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Edward Mcdonald, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. After 34 minutes of play, the referee blew the whistle. It was a penalty for Fc Benefica! Mitchel Dijkstra had in the 37thth minute some difficulties stopping Cassius Byrne's well aimed penalty as it nearly passed him on his left side, but he still managed to hold the ball. After a rather tough play, USA's Raphael Moore got a free kick in the 38th minute. After some fancy dribbling in the 39th minute, Jens van Basten managed to get in a good position for a shot. Fc Benefica's supporters rose to their feet, but Jens van Basten was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Marco Day breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. The supporters of Fc Benefica booed when USA was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 45 match minutes in a wonderful position. Edward Mcdonald didn't get a good kick on the ball. In the 46th match minute, Fc Benefica was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Damien Bakker to maneuver through the defense. No-one was surprised that the home team were leading 1-0 at half-time.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Kurt-Jürgen Kurri was the one to do the kick off. Marco Day took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Kurt-Jürgen Kurri, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. 61 minutes had been played when some careless play by USA's defense caused the ball to cross the line for a corner. Leandro Soares was slow to take the kick. During this time Fc Benefica's players had a chance to rest. 62 minutes into the match, Cassius Byrne notched a goal, 2-0, to the right of Fc Benefica's Mitchel Dijkstra. Mitchel Dijkstra was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. Mitchel Dijkstra showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Monty Rogers in the 71st minute of the match. USA made a substitution. Sam Campbell replaced Cassius Byrne. 82 minutes into the match, Fc Benefica's goal looked a bit too open when Monty Rogers came free, but Mitchel Dijkstra reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 85th minute Kurt-Jürgen Kurri 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. Mitchel Dijkstra made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Sam Campbell in the 88th minute of play. An unexpectedly hard shot by Sam Campbell in the 89th minute of play forced Fc Benefica's goalkeeper Mitchel Dijkstra to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. 91 minutes into the match, USA's goal looked a bit too open when Kurt-Jürgen Kurri came free, but Marco Day reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Marco Day came out of the goal in the 91st minute to try and stop a shot by Fc Benefica's Kurt-Jürgen Kurri. But to his dismay, Kurt-Jürgen Kurri quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 3-1. USA made a substitution. Khalid Parry replaced Monty Rogers. USA made a substitution. Marco Baker replaced Edward Mcdonald. USA walked away with a well-earned victory that was much celebrated by the crowd.