Challenge

Hall of Valhalla
Spectators: 40 (Terracing: 31, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Tomas Illescas took the kick off in the first half of the match. Costel Gurgui kicked well hit freekick during the 4th minute of the match. In the 4th minute of the match Tomas Illescas shot from a long distance. The ball could have gone into the goal to the right of the goalkeeper, but Dacian Ghițescu showed his good shape when he easily got hold of the ball. The supporters of PHOENIX Cluj-Napoca booed when Venezuela was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 14 match minutes in a wonderful position. Jonathan Venegas didn't get a good kick on the ball. Golo Phoenix who was well placed in front of the goal fired away a dangerous shot that in the 16thth minute tested the skills of Jonathan Ferrant when he managed to save the team from getting behind. PHOENIX Cluj-Napoca's Dacian Ghițescu played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Patricio Costa in the 17th minute of play. Felix Mihăilescu 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. In the last second Jonathan Ferrant throw himself and got hold of the ball when Felix Mihăilescu in the 29thth minute from his position got away a shot towards the right post. Sorin Nicorici's late challenge caught a Venezuela's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Sorin Nicorici helped the player get up and apologised. In the 31st minute, Sorin Nicorici hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. In the 34th minute of the match, Nistor Vermeşan got a very nice opportunity to score, but Jonathan Ferrant was well-placed and pushed the ball away from the goal at the left post. After 36 minutes of play PHOENIX Cluj-Napoca's Costel Gurgui was too eager in his attempt to stop his opponent and brought him down. With that he got his second yellow card and was ordered off the ground. In the 36th match minute, PHOENIX Cluj-Napoca was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Costel Gurgui to maneuver through the defense. Dacian Ghițescu made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Tomas Illescas in the 43rd minute of play. After 46 played minutes Venezuela got a freekick which was hit by Patricio Costa.

The audience was convinced that Tomas Illescas's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Dacian Ghițescu was relentless in the 56th minute of the game. Jonathan Ferrant took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Golo Phoenix, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 65th minute, Felix Mihăilescu made a precise shot to the right of Jonathan Ferrant. Venezuela's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 2-0. Jonathan Ferrant made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Felix Mihăilescu in the 68th minute of play. If Patricio Costa had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 70th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 74th minute, Tomas Illescas reached a very good position and smashed the ball with a huge effort into the net, just to the left of Dacian Ghițescu. The goal made the score 2-1. Tomas Illescas sent away a hard shot on goal in the 82nd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. When Tomas Illescas came up free with the goalie in the 88th minute, the Venezuela 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 Tomas Illescas couldn't finish the play. Patricio Costa recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 91st minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. PHOENIX Cluj-Napoca's fans were exulted and cheered after their team won in a match that could easily have gone the other way.