Challenge

Queen Arena
Spectators: 42 (Terracing: 32, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Victor Piţurcă took the kick off in the first half of the match. Venezuela's Jonathan Ferrant proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 3rd minute of the match, managed to save Venezuela from getting a goal against them. 5 minutes into the match, Emerald's goal looked a bit too open when Tomas Illescas came free, but Bogdan Lobonț reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After some fancy dribbling in the 6th minute, Victor Piţurcă managed to get in a good position for a shot. Emerald's supporters rose to their feet, but Victor Piţurcă was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Jonathan Ferrant breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. In the 15th minute, Guillermo Mariano hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. In the 18th minute, Victor Piţurcă reached a very good position and smashed the ball with a huge effort into the net, just to the left of Jonathan Ferrant. The goal made the score 2-0. 23 minutes into the match, Emerald's goal looked a bit too open when Patricio Costa came free, but Bogdan Lobonț reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Venezuela were awarded a corner in the 24th minute after Emerald's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Tomas Illescas took the corner. Venezuela's Tomas Illescas was first on the ball when the corner was shot and he dangerously headed the ball towards goal, but Bogdan Lobonț in the goal jumped up to prevent it from getting in. Venezuela's attacker deliberately struck the ball against an opponent to win a corner for his team. The corner was taken by Tomas Illescas in the 26th minute. Venezuela's Tomas Illescas was first on the ball when the corner was shot and he dangerously headed the ball towards goal, but Bogdan Lobonț in the goal jumped up to prevent it from getting in. An unexpectedly hard shot by Tomas Illescas in the 28th minute of play forced Emerald's goalkeeper Bogdan Lobonț to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. 30 minutes into the game, Emerald's Victor Piţurcă nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Jonathan Ferrant made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 3-0. An unexpectedly hard shot by Tomas Illescas in the 34th minute of play forced Emerald's goalkeeper Bogdan Lobonț to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. 38 minutes into the game, Victor Piţurcă recieved a splendid long ball, split the defenders, and gently placed the ball to the left of Jonathan Ferrant. Victor Piţurcă showed that you don't have to tear a hole in the net to score, 4-0. After 41 minutes, Victor Piţurcă mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Emerald and the Venezuela players grew even worse after the yellow card. The supporters of Venezuela booed when Emerald was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 41 match minutes in a wonderful position. Victor Piţurcă didn't get a good kick on the ball. After 43 played minutes Venezuela got a freekick which was hit by Guillermo Mariano. All the noise was coming from the home fans when the whistle went for half-time. The home team had fought hardest to put themselves in a deserved lead.

Jonathan Ferrant came out of the goal in the 53rd minute to try and stop a shot by Emerald's Victor Piţurcă. But to his dismay, Victor Piţurcă quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 5-0. Jonathan Ferrant didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Victor Piţurcă went, in the 63rd minute, to the upper right corner, 6-0 was the resulting score. 66 minutes into the game, Emerald's Victor Piţurcă nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Jonathan Ferrant made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 7-0. After a rather tough play, Venezuela's Patricio Costa got a free kick in the 73rd minute. Jonathan Ferrant came out of the goal in the 74th minute to try and stop a shot by Emerald's Jaime Carioca. But to his dismay, Jaime Carioca quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 8-0. After 77 minutes of play, Emerald's Victor Piţurcă made it 9-0 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Jonathan Ferrant was left in no man's land by his defense there! An unexpectedly hard shot by Victor Piţurcă in the 80th minute of play forced Venezuela's goalkeeper Jonathan Ferrant to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 81st minute, Victor Piţurcă 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. Victor Piţurcă received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 83rd minute. Jonathan Ferrant tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. When Tomas Illescas came up free with the goalie in the 89th minute, the Venezuela 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 Tomas Illescas couldn't finish the play. Tomas Illescas kicked well hit freekick during the 91st minute of the match. In the 93rd minute, Patricio Costa hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. After 98 played minutes Venezuela got a freekick which was hit by Patricio Costa. Emerald's fans were exulted and cheered after their team won in a match that could easily have gone the other way.