Challenge

94-07
Spectators: 44 (Terracing: 34, Seating: 10, 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. Jon Iruegas 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 12th minute. After some careless play in the USA defense, Fernanco Peso 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. After a rather tough play, Sporting Cristal's Gertjan De Ryck got a free kick in the 20th minute. The audience held their breath when Cassius Byrne in the 22nd minute of the game managed to trick the opponents defenses and fired away a shot outside the goal on the Jon Iruegas's left hand side. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Fernanco Peso in the 26th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Marco Day saved USA from getting behind. The corner led Sporting Cristal's Christian Luciano to fire away a dangerous shot which Marco Day despite some difficulties managed to get hold on the ball. Marco Day had in the 35thth minute some difficulties stopping Gertjan De Ryck's well aimed penalty as it nearly passed him on his left side, but he still managed to hold the ball. Jon Iruegas took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Monty Rogers, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. USA's Marco Day played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Fernanco Peso in the 39th minute of play. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Fernanco Peso in the 40th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Marco Day saved USA from getting behind. An unexpectedly hard shot by Cassius Byrne in the 42nd minute of play forced Sporting Cristal's goalkeeper Jon Iruegas to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. An unexpectedly hard shot by Fernanco Peso in the 43rd minute of play forced USA's goalkeeper Marco Day to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 46th match minute, Sporting Cristal was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Hüseyin Turan Elçibey to maneuver through the defense. Af the end of the first half the score was 1-0. The first half had gone as expected for the home team.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Fernanco Peso stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. In the 52nd minute, Edward Mcdonald left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The USA fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 1-1. Jon Iruegas made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Monty Rogers in the 55th minute of play. Jon Iruegas made an important save on a dangerous shot by Cassius Byrne in the 56th minute. Sporting Cristal made a substitution. Claudinei Suarbol replaced Sal Grandoso. Diego Bradley kicked well hit freekick during the 62nd minute of the match. Gertjan De Ryck took a chance and fired a shot far from the goal in the 63rd minute, but it turned out to be a dangerous situation for Marco Day. USA's goalkeeper really had to stretch himself to stop the ball from crossing the goal line. The audience thought a goal was coming when Zach Harrison got free with Jon Iruegas in the 68th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Monty Rogers's shot straight on target was not completely harmless. The ball had pretty good speed, but Jon Iruegas firmly grabbed it by the left post. Jon Iruegas 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 71st minute. Christian Luciano recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 74th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. USA made a substitution. Sam Campbell replaced Cassius Byrne. Fernanco Peso blasted a shot towards the goal in the 77th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Marco Day having to make a save. 81 minutes into the match, Sporting Cristal's goal looked a bit too open when Monty Rogers came free, but Jon Iruegas reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Jon Iruegas showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Monty Rogers, who was totally free with the ball in the 87th minute. USA's Khalid Parry was substituted for Monty Rogers. USA made a substitution. Marco Baker replaced Edward Mcdonald. In the 95th minute Fernanco Peso 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.