Challenge

RFK Stadium
Spectators: 45 (Terracing: 35, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) Santiago Abreu made the kick off and thus started the match. Zach Harrison's shot straight on target was not completely harmless. The ball had pretty good speed, but Iker Madrid firmly grabbed it by the left post. An unexpectedly hard shot by Santiago Abreu in the 9th minute of play forced USA's goalkeeper Marco Day to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. After a rather tough play, Celestiales's Manolo Sanchís got a free kick in the 10th minute. 16 minutes into the match, Celestiales's goal looked a bit too open when Edward Mcdonald came free, but Iker Madrid reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 26th minute, Santiago Abreu 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. With a little luck, Celestiales's Iker Madrid got control of the ball when Cassius Byrne tried to sneak it across the goal line. After some fancy dribbling in the 32nd minute, Cassius Byrne managed to get in a good position for a shot. USA's supporters rose to their feet, but Cassius Byrne was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Iker Madrid breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Santiago Abreu sent away a hard shot on goal in the 41st minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. In the 41st minute Santiago Abreu 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. 44 minutes had been played when some careless play by Celestiales'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. Edward Mcdonald was in a good position and managed to take a shot, but he missed just to the outside of the post. After some fancy dribbling in the 47th minute, Jiang Sha managed to get in a good position for a shot. Celestiales's supporters rose to their feet, but Jiang Sha 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 fans had the chance to grab some refreshments as the whistle went for half-time. The score stood at 0-0 after a close first half.

Iker Madrid 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 62 minutes Celestiales's defender was forced to head the ball over the line for a corner. It was Cassius Byrne who took care of the corner kick. The corner ended in Jacob May almost managing to get the ball behind the net, but Celestiales's Iker Madrid did a great save. When Celestiales's Santiago Abreu in the 65th minute got a chance for a shot 65th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye USA's goalie prevented a goal. After some fancy dribbling in the 67th minute, Santiago Abreu managed to get in a good position for a shot. Celestiales's supporters rose to their feet, but Santiago Abreu 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. USA made a substitution. Sam Campbell replaced Cassius Byrne. Celestiales made a substitution. Eustaquio Eudoxio replaced Santiago Abreu. Iker Madrid showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Edward Mcdonald, who was totally free with the ball in the 72nd minute. If Jiang Sha had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 81st minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 84th minute the ball was on its way in behind Celestiales's goalkeeper Iker Madrid, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. 85 minutes had been played when some careless play by Celestiales's defense caused the ball to cross the line for a corner. Jenson Smith was slow to take the kick. During this time USA's players had a chance to rest. It was a well-played corner which Marco Baker managed to volley towards the net. Unfortunately, he didn't get a great hit on the ball and it went out into the grandstand. In the 92nd match minute, Celestiales was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Florin Simuţ to maneuver through the defense. Celestiales were delighted with the way they had won the match. They had held their defensive line well and made the most of their chances, to claim a victory over USA's much stronger midfield.