Challenge

Truseni Arena
Spectators: 50 (Terracing: 38, Seating: 11, VIP seats: 1) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when Tomas Illescas kicked off to start the match. Tomas Illescas fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 8th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Anibal Aritza having to interfere. After 11th play minutes Teodor Cornea shot 1-0, a short shot which went by Jonathan Ferrant and just under the crossbar into goal. With his leg Jonathan Ferrant managed to avoid a goal in the 17thth minute, when FC Truseni's Leonid Nazaria fired away a shot with a lot of spin towards his right hand side. With a little luck, Venezuela's Jonathan Ferrant got control of the ball when Dorel Cretu tried to sneak it across the goal line. Patricio Costa's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Anibal Aritza read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 21st minute of play. A collision led to FC Truseni getting a freekick after 24 minutes play. Tudor Buga hit a great ball. Anibal Aritza showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Tomas Illescas, who was totally free with the ball in the 26th minute. Patricio Costa sent away a hard shot on goal in the 27th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. When Teodor Cornea came up free with the goalie in the 29th minute, the FC Truseni 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 Teodor Cornea couldn't finish the play. Tomas Illescas scored 1-1 in the 35th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Anibal Aritza, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. Anibal Aritza took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Tomas Illescas, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. If Patricio Costa had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 40th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Jonathan Ferrant made a fantastic save in the 42nd minute, when Dorel Cretu sent off a good shot on target. Dorel Cretus short, quick shot in the 48thth minute got Jonathan Ferrant to make great effort and bar the ball away from getting in. The score stood at 1-1 when the half time whistle went. Both sets of players seemed reasonably pleased with how the match was going.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Dorel Cretu to strike the kick off in the second half. The supporters of Venezuela booed when FC Truseni was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 56 match minutes in a wonderful position. Dorin Dobã didn't get a good kick on the ball. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Dorel Cretu in the 60th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Jonathan Ferrant prevented the ball from getting in the gole. 72 minutes into the match, FC Truseni's goal looked a bit too open when Tomas Illescas came free, but Anibal Aritza reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Jonathan Ferrant made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Dorel Cretu in the 76th minute of play. FC Truseni made a substitution. Sandu Perju replaced Tudor Buga. Alexei Jereghi hit a great freekick 85 minutes into the match. After having played for 86 minutes, Patricio Costa managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Venezuela's supporters crossed their fingers, but Patricio Costa was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Tomas Illescas's shot straight on target was not completely harmless. The ball had pretty good speed, but Anibal Aritza firmly grabbed it by the left post. Neither set of supporters seemed pleased with the draw, but both teams had played equally well today.