Challenge

RFK Stadium
Spectators: 49 (Terracing: 38, Seating: 11, VIP seats: 0) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Cassius Byrne started the match with the kick off. 4 minutes into the game, Monty Rogers recieved a splendid long ball, split the defenders, and gently placed the ball to the left of Juaneizu Merida. Monty Rogers showed that you don't have to tear a hole in the net to score, 1-0. Nacional's Juaneizu Merida proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 11th minute of the match, managed to save Nacional from getting a goal against them. A throw-in in the 12th minute of the game was made by Jenson Smith with Monty Rogers as target, who quickly passed the ball forward. After some careless play in the USA defense, Grabiel Escorcia kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Marco Day. The USA fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Marco Day should have stopped the shot. Nacional's Juaneizu Merida played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Cassius Byrne in the 18th minute of play. USA's Marco Day played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Grabiel Escorcia in the 19th minute of play. After 20 minutes USA's defender was forced to head the ball over the line for a corner. It was Xu Sha who took care of the corner kick. Felipe Carballo made a great header on Nacional's corner, it was just that USA's Marco Day managed to reach the ball for a save. Nacional's Juaneizu Merida played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Monty Rogers in the 26th minute of play. Juaneizu Merida made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Monty Rogers in the 27th minute of play. If Grabiel Escorcia had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 28th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. Marco Day showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Grabiel Escorcia in the 28th minute of the match. Joseph Gayoso sent away a hard shot on goal in the 33rd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. The audience thought a goal was coming when Edward Mcdonald got free with Juaneizu Merida in the 35th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. The referee blew the whistle for a penalty in the 37th minute of the game. One of USA:s players had nearly got his shirt torn off by an opponent while getting free in front of Nacional:s goal. Marco Day had in the 38thth minute some difficulties stopping Grabiel Escorcia's well aimed penalty as it nearly passed him on his left side, but he still managed to hold the ball. In the 40th minute Grabiel Escorcia 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. Juaneizu Merida made an important save on a dangerous shot by Cassius Byrne in the 46th minute. After a very even first half the match was still tied. The players went to their respective dressing rooms to discuss the tactics for the second half.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Grabiel Escorcia to strike the kick off in the second half. Juaneizu Merida came out of the goal in the 53rd minute to try and stop a shot by USA's Monty Rogers. But to his dismay, Monty Rogers quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 2-1. 59 minutes into the match, Monty Rogers notched a goal, 3-1, to the right of Nacional's Juaneizu Merida. Juaneizu Merida was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. Nacional's Damiano Fioravanti was substituted for Mendiko Bueres. Juaneizu Merida took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Cassius Byrne, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Juaneizu Merida showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Cassius Byrne, who was totally free with the ball in the 67th minute. Joseph Gayoso could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 71st minute of the match, but Marco Day made a huge save. Marco Day showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Grabiel Escorcia, who was totally free with the ball in the 73rd minute. Grabiel Escorcia'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 75th minute of play. Juaneizu Merida made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Monty Rogers in the 78th minute of play. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Grabiel Escorcia in the 80th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Marco Day prevented the ball from getting in the gole. In the 81st minute Nacional were awarded a corner. Xu Sha went to the cornerflag to take it. In the 84th minute Monty Rogers shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Juaneizu Merida saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Juaneizu Merida took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Monty Rogers, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Juaneizu Merida showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Monty Rogers in the 86th minute of the match. Juaneizu Merida made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Monty Rogers in the 88th minute of play. José Luis Rodríguez kicked well hit freekick during the 91st minute of the match. USA's Sam Campbell was substituted for Cassius Byrne. The supporters of Nacional booed when USA was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 94 match minutes in a wonderful position. Jenson Smith didn't get a good kick on the ball.