Challenge

RFK Stadium
Spectators: 45 (Terracing: 35, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when Baltasar Frasquito kicked off to start the match. With a little luck, Nevşehirspor's Gianluca Buffon got control of the ball when Monty Rogers tried to sneak it across the goal line. Cassius Byrne who was well placed in front of the goal fired away a dangerous shot that in the 9thth minute tested the skills of Gianluca Buffon when he managed to save the team from getting behind. Cassius Byrne recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 12th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. After 16 played minutes Nevşehirspor got a freekick which was hit by Ayaz Aydın. USA's Cassius Byrne shoveled away a really nice long shot in the 17th minute of play. The shot was stopped by Gianluca Buffon but with some difficulty. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Rıdvan Kurushov during the 18th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. Rıdvan Kurushov hit a great freekick 18 minutes into the match. With a little luck, Nevşehirspor's Gianluca Buffon got control of the ball when Cassius Byrne tried to sneak it across the goal line. 27 minutes into the match, Nevşehirspor's goal looked a bit too open when Monty Rogers came free, but Gianluca Buffon reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Cipriano Proença fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 32nd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Marco Day having to interfere. Cipriano Proença struck a weak shot in the 34th minute. Marco Day didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Nevşehirspor. After some careless play in the USA defense, Cipriano Proença 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. Gianluca Buffon made an important save on a dangerous shot by Cassius Byrne in the 39th minute. When USA's Cassius Byrne in 40 game minutes managed to cut through with the ball in front of the goal, only having to shoot. Gianluca Buffon guarding the goal like a pit bull was extremely focused and managed to reach the ball just by the crossbar before it went in. Gianluca Buffon made an important save on a dangerous shot by Edward Mcdonald in the 44th minute. 45 minutes into the game, Diego Bradley threw the ball into play from the sideline. Nevşehirspor's Angelo Di Livio quickly snatched the ball and retained possesion. 46 minutes into the match, USA's goal looked a bit too open when Baltasar Frasquito came free, but Marco Day reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. The fans had the chance to grab some refreshments as the whistle went for half-time. The score stood at 1-1 after a close first half.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Cassius Byrne stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. Edward Mcdonald took the ball and in the 53 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Gianluca Buffon. Gianluca Buffon dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 2-1. 55 minutes into the game, Diego Bradley threw the ball into play from the sideline. Nevşehirspor's Angelo Di Livio quickly snatched the ball and retained possesion. Nevşehirspor's Hami Tuğaltay was substituted for Bror Kent. Nevşehirspor made a substitution. Ferdi Kadıoğlu replaced Cankut Koytak. In the 61st minute, Ragnar Åberg hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. USA made a substitution. Sam Campbell replaced Cassius Byrne. Jenson Smith made in the 73rd minute of the game a throw-in that took a bad bounce and was taken care of by Nevşehirspor's Angelo Di Livio. Gianluca Buffon made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Monty Rogers in the 76th minute of play. Sam Campbell's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Gianluca Buffon read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 79th minute of play. USA made a substitution. Khalid Parry replaced Monty Rogers. In the 81st minute of the match USA got a corner. Nevşehirspor's goalie ran out to the linesman to protest the call, but the linesman resolutely pointed his flag at the cornerflag. Jenson Smith ran over to the corner to take the kick. A well-hit corner resulted in Marco Baker heading the ball towards the goal, but to his dismay he misdirected it and missed the goal completely. In the 85thth minute of the game Ragnar Åberg who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but USA's Marco Day was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. Nevşehirspor's Angelo Di Livio managed, thanks to a brazen rush, stole the ball on a throw-in made by Diego Bradley in the 87 minute of the game. The audience was convinced that Sam Campbell's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Gianluca Buffon was relentless in the 89th minute of the game. USA walked away with a well-earned victory that was much celebrated by the crowd.