Challenge

Balan Arena
Spectators: 40 (Terracing: 31, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) JUNIOR 2012's Traian Pușcașu 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. After 6 minutes, Moises Fernandino made it 0-1 with a short kick to the right side. JUNIOR 2012's Sebastian Minulescu tried to save the shot but he was too slow in reacting to the shot. El Salvador's Ricardo Zorita played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Flavius Nechifor in the 16th minute of play. After 19 played minutes El Salvador got a freekick which was hit by Jorge Magrina. Sebastian Minulescu took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Moises Fernandino, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 27th minute Moises Fernandino shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Sebastian Minulescu saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Sebastian Minulescu made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Abram Luque in the 28th minute of play. After a rather tough play, El Salvador's Joshua Curbelo got a free kick in the 30th minute. When JUNIOR 2012's Traian Pușcașu in the 31st minute got a chance for a shot 31st didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye El Salvador's goalie prevented a goal. A collision led to El Salvador getting a freekick after 32 minutes play. Lorenzo Yepes hit a great ball. After recieving a nice pass, JUNIOR 2012's Virgil Oprescu tried to score from far away in the 33rd minute, but the ball went over the crossbar. 41 minutes into the match, Abram Luque had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Sebastian Minulescu. JUNIOR 2012's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Abram Luque was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 1-2. Traian Pușcașu in the 47thth minute had a little luck and got a chance for a shot in front of the goal. Without hesitation aimed to the right of Ricardo Zorita, who managed to lunge to the right direction and made a save. After the first half El Salvador were leading 1-2. They had played with great self confidence throughout the first half and fully deserved their lead.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Moises Fernandino stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. An unexpectedly hard shot by Codruț Tăgorean in the 60th minute of play forced El Salvador's goalkeeper Ricardo Zorita to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. El Salvador's Ricardo Zorita played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Flavius Nechifor in the 61st minute of play. Dan Pintilie sent away a hard shot on goal in the 62nd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. JUNIOR 2012's Cătălin Nicolau was substituted for Traian Pușcașu. In the 67th minute, Flavius Nechifor ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Ricardo Zorita was frozen by the shot and now it was 2-2. When Moises Fernandino came up free with the goalie in the 74th minute, the El Salvador fans jumped to their feet. But the shot missed the goal by a fraction of an inch, and the fans sat back down disappointed that Moises Fernandino couldn't finish the play. In the 79th minute, Jorge Magrina hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. The supporters of JUNIOR 2012 booed when El Salvador was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 85 match minutes in a wonderful position. Moises Fernandino didn't get a good kick on the ball. In the 88th minute, Moises Fernandino 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.