Challenge

RFK Stadium
Spectators: 47 (Terracing: 36, Seating: 11, VIP seats: 0) Monty Rogers fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 2nd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Aguinaga Nebot having to interfere. Aguinaga Nebot 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 4th minute. Ghitã Fratea hit a great freekick 8 minutes into the match. When the match had been going on for 8 minutes Cassius Byrne shot a great shot from long distance. It looked like a certain goal, but the audience witnessed a really smashing save by Aguinaga Nebot when he caught the ball only just under the crossbar. Cassius Byrnes short, quick shot in the 10thth minute got Aguinaga Nebot to make great effort and bar the ball away from getting in. In the 13th minute Monty Rogers shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Aguinaga Nebot saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. An unexpectedly hard shot by İbrahim Volkan in the 16th minute of play forced USA's goalkeeper Marco Day to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Cassius Byrnes short, quick shot in the 19thth minute got Aguinaga Nebot to make great effort and bar the ball away from getting in. Damian Maftei recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 21st minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Cassius Byrne blasted a shot towards the goal in the 24th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Aguinaga Nebot having to make a save. The audience thought a goal was coming when Cassius Byrne got free with Aguinaga Nebot in the 27th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. İbrahim Volkan'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 28th minute of play. In the 28th minute, İbrahim Volkan ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Marco Day was frozen by the shot and now it was 0-1. When USA's Cassius Byrne in the 30th minute got a chance for a shot 30th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Esmeraldas S.C.'s goalie prevented a goal. Marco Day showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Damian Maftei, who was totally free with the ball in the 35th minute. An unexpectedly hard shot by Damian Maftei in the 36th minute of play forced USA's goalkeeper Marco Day to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Marco Day made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from İbrahim Volkan in the 39th minute of play. Damian Maftei hit a great freekick 39 minutes into the match. The audience thought a goal was coming when Cassius Byrne got free with Aguinaga Nebot in the 42nd minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. After having played for 46 minutes, Edward Mcdonald managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. USA's supporters crossed their fingers, but Edward Mcdonald was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. The supporters of USA booed when Esmeraldas S.C. was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 47 match minutes in a wonderful position. Stefanos Terzopoulos didn't get a good kick on the ball. Cassius Byrne in the 48thth minute had a little luck and got a chance for a shot in front of the goal. Without hesitation aimed to the right of Aguinaga Nebot, who managed to lunge to the right direction and made a save. Cassius Byrne who was well placed in front of the goal fired away a dangerous shot that in the 48thth minute tested the skills of Aguinaga Nebot when he managed to save the team from getting behind. After the first half Esmeraldas S.C. were leading 0-1. They had played with great self confidence throughout the first half and fully deserved their lead.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell İbrahim Volkan to make the kick off. In the 54th minute Cassius Byrne shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Aguinaga Nebot saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. After 55 minutes Esmeraldas S.C.'s defender was forced to head the ball over the line for a corner. It was Cassius Byrne who took care of the corner kick. A nice corner shot did that Monty Rogers got away a dangerous shot. Despite this Aguinaga Nebot quite easily got ahold of the ball to make the save. 57 minutes into the match, USA's goal looked a bit too open when Damian Maftei came free, but Marco Day reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 59thth minute of the game Cassius Byrne who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Esmeraldas S.C.'s Aguinaga Nebot was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. USA were awarded a corner in the 60th minute after Esmeraldas S.C.'s defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Cassius Byrne took the corner. Cassius Byrne was in a good position and managed to take a shot, but he missed just to the outside of the post. After some fancy dribbling in the 64th minute, Monty Rogers managed to get in a good position for a shot. USA's supporters rose to their feet, but Monty Rogers was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Aguinaga Nebot breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Marco Day took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Damian Maftei, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. USA's Sam Campbell was substituted for Cassius Byrne. Yan Zhou Xuan made a great header on Esmeraldas S.C.'s corner, it was just that USA's Marco Day managed to reach the ball for a save. Marco Day made an important save on a dangerous shot by Daniel Castillo in the 71st minute. In the 72nd minute, Sam Campbell got an opportunity to score, but he didn't get a solid hit on the ball and ended up kicking it wide of the goal. Marco Day came out of the goal in the 74th minute to try and stop a shot by Esmeraldas S.C.'s Damian Maftei. But to his dismay, Damian Maftei quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 0-2. In the 78th minute, Jacob May got an opportunity to score, but he didn't get a solid hit on the ball and ended up kicking it wide of the goal. USA's Marco Baker was substituted for Edward Mcdonald. Aguinaga Nebot stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Khalid Parry's shot from short distance in the 81st minute. Marco Day took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Damian Maftei, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. İbrahim Volkan came free with the goalkeeper in the 84th minute of the match, and shot straight on target. The shot was a little too simple and Marco Day could save by the left post. Esmeraldas S.C.'s Stefanos Terzopoulos was first on the ball when the corner was shot and he dangerously headed the ball towards goal, but Marco Day in the goal jumped up to prevent it from getting in. İbrahim Volkan in the 88thth minute had a little luck and got a chance for a shot in front of the goal. Without hesitation aimed to the right of Marco Day, who managed to lunge to the right direction and made a save. Aguinaga Nebot made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Jenson Smith in the 89th minute of play. After 90 minutes, Sam Campbell made it 1-2 with a short kick to the right side. Esmeraldas S.C.'s Aguinaga Nebot tried to save the shot but he was too slow in reacting to the shot. Daniel Castillo recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 96th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. When the final whistle was heard the away supporters stood up and showed their joy. Esmeraldas S.C. had managed to secure a win in what was a close match throughout.