Challenge

EAGLES STADIUM
Spectators: 43 (Terracing: 33, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) MANCHESTER UNITED's Elbert Gudov started the match with a crisp pass. The crowd had been anticipating this game for weeks and the excitement in the stadium was easily visible. When Joshua Secada fell near the penalty area in the 5th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Venezuela's protests and gave Joshua Secada a yellow card for diving instead. After 5 played minutes Venezuela got a freekick which was hit by Joshua Secada. Tomas Illescas fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 8th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Helmut Kunze having to interfere. Jonathan Ferrant made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Luan Velloso in the 10th minute of play. In the 11th minute Luan Velloso shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Jonathan Ferrant saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. When the match clock showed 13 minutes, the score became 1-1 when Tomas Illescas sped through MANCHESTER UNITED's defense and sent away a curving shot that went into the net to the right of Helmut Kunze. After a defensive mix-up in Venezuela's zone, Elbert Gudov stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Jonathan Ferrant came out of the goal and Elbert Gudov tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. The supporters of Venezuela booed when MANCHESTER UNITED was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 18 match minutes in a wonderful position. Luan Velloso didn't get a good kick on the ball. Tomas Illescas received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 20th minute. Helmut Kunze tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. When Patricio Costa fell near the penalty area in the 21st minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Venezuela's protests and gave Patricio Costa a yellow card for diving instead. The supporters of MANCHESTER UNITED booed when Venezuela was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 21 match minutes in a wonderful position. Patricio Costa didn't get a good kick on the ball. Jonathan Ferrant took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Elbert Gudov, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. 24 minutes had been played when some careless play by Venezuela's defense caused the ball to cross the line for a corner. Kristian Harrit was slow to take the kick. During this time MANCHESTER UNITED's players had a chance to rest. 35 minutes into the match, Evlogi Cheshmedzhiev had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Jonathan Ferrant. Venezuela's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Evlogi Cheshmedzhiev was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 2-1. Venezuela's Jonathan Ferrant played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Evlogi Cheshmedzhiev in the 39th minute of play. 41 minutes in the game Spiro Vutov did a throw-in, and the ball was quickly in game thanks to Ariel Senen. No-one was surprised that the home team were leading 2-1 at half-time.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Tomas Illescas to make the kick off. Evlogi Cheshmedzhiev fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 53rd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Jonathan Ferrant having to interfere. Helmut Kunze didn't succeed in stopping the ball in the 55th minute, which inside left pole to 2-2. After a rather tough play, Venezuela's Guillermo Mariano got a free kick in the 58th minute. After a defensive mix-up in Venezuela's zone, Elbert Gudov stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Jonathan Ferrant came out of the goal and Elbert Gudov tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Jonathan Ferrant showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Elbert Gudov in the 66th minute of the match. MANCHESTER UNITED's attacker deliberately struck the ball against an opponent to win a corner for his team. The corner was taken by Kristian Harrit in the 68th minute. In the 70th match minute, Venezuela was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Tomas Illescas to maneuver through the defense. Jonathan Ferrant took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Elbert Gudov, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. MANCHESTER UNITED's Helmut Kunze played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Patricio Costa in the 75th minute of play. Evlogi Cheshmedzhiev sent away a hard shot on goal in the 80th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Jonathan Ferrant took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Elbert Gudov, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Jose Correa kicked well hit freekick during the 94th minute of the match. In the 94th minute of the match Gelu Dragomir shot from a long distance. The ball could have gone into the goal to the right of the goalkeeper, but Jonathan Ferrant showed his good shape when he easily got hold of the ball. After some fancy dribbling in the 96th minute, Tomas Illescas managed to get in a good position for a shot. Venezuela's supporters rose to their feet, but Tomas Illescas was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Helmut Kunze breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick.