Challenge

Queen Arena
Spectators: 42 (Terracing: 32, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Mariano Lacasa took the kick off in the first half of the match. After 2 played minutes Emerald got a freekick which was hit by Matei Félix Júnior. After a defensive mix-up in Emerald's zone, Mariano Lacasa stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Bogdan Lobonț came out of the goal and Mariano Lacasa tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Bogdan Lobonț stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Mariano Lacasa's shot from short distance in the 7th minute. Bogdan Lobonț showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Mariano Lacasa in the 8th minute of the match. Victor Piţurcă's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Thiago Pliego read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 10th minute of play. Victor Piţurcă recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 15th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Bogdan Lobonț made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Mariano Lacasa in the 17th minute of play. In the 20th minute, Mariano Lacasa ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Bogdan Lobonț was frozen by the shot and now it was 0-1. Mariano Lacasa's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Bogdan Lobonț read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 22nd minute of play. The audience thought a goal was coming when Gabriel Vermeşan got free with Thiago Pliego in the 24th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Thiago Pliego showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Victor Piţurcă, who was totally free with the ball in the 29th minute. Victor Piţurcă's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Thiago Pliego read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 34th minute of play. Victor Piţurcă blasted a shot towards the goal in the 35th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Thiago Pliego having to make a save. With a little luck, Chile's Thiago Pliego got control of the ball when Victor Piţurcă tried to sneak it across the goal line. Victor Piţurcă might have been able to make a better finish in the 37th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Thiago Pliego. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Victor Piţurcă ran back to his position shaking his head. In the 37th minute Victor Piţurcă shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Thiago Pliego saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Chile's Thiago Pliego played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Gabriel Vermeşan in the 40th minute of play. Bogdan Lobonț made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Mariano Lacasa in the 47th minute of play.

Emerald's Ioan Logofătu got a good chance for a goal in the 52nd minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Mariano Lacasa's shot straight on target was not completely harmless. The ball had pretty good speed, but Bogdan Lobonț firmly grabbed it by the left post. 64 minutes into the match, Chile's Mariano Lacasa sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Bogdan Lobonț narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Bogdan Lobonț made an important save on a dangerous shot by Mariano Lacasa in the 68th minute. Mariano Lacasas short, quick shot in the 70thth minute got Bogdan Lobonț to make great effort and bar the ball away from getting in. Mariano Lacasa could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 75th minute of the match, but Bogdan Lobonț made a huge save. Mariano Lacasa recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 77th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Victor Piţurcă struck a weak shot in the 79th minute. Thiago Pliego didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Emerald. Mariano Lacasa's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Bogdan Lobonț read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 81st minute of play. 82 minutes into the match, Chile's Mariano Lacasa sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Bogdan Lobonț narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Victor Piţurcă sent away a hard shot on goal in the 84th minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. 95 minutes into the match, Mariano Lacasa had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Bogdan Lobonț. Emerald's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Mariano Lacasa was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 0-3. Chile's supporters were very happy and cheered loudly because their team had won after a very close match.