Challenge

Eternal Flame Arena
Spectators: 50 (Terracing: 38, Seating: 11, VIP seats: 1) 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. A collision led to USA getting a freekick after 4 minutes play. Edward Mcdonald hit a great ball. After some fancy dribbling in the 5th minute, Phoenix Kante managed to get in a good position for a shot. PHOENIX SC's supporters rose to their feet, but Phoenix Kante was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Marco Day breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. 8 minutes into the match, PHOENIX SC's goal looked a bit too open when Cassius Byrne came free, but Ray Clemence reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. With a little luck, USA's Marco Day got control of the ball when Lilcho Ilchov tried to sneak it across the goal line. An unexpectedly hard shot by Cassius Byrne in the 14th minute of play forced PHOENIX SC's goalkeeper Ray Clemence to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Marco Day showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Frederico Hendrickx, who was totally free with the ball in the 17th minute. The audience thought a goal was coming when Lilcho Ilchov got free with Marco Day in the 22nd minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Marco Day made an important save on a dangerous shot by Lilcho Ilchov in the 24th minute. Ray Clemence made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Monty Rogers in the 27th minute of play. 28 minutes had been played when some careless play by PHOENIX SC's defense caused the ball to cross the line for a corner. Cassius Byrne was slow to take the kick. During this time USA's players had a chance to rest. After taking down the ball on USA's corner Diego Bradley fired away a hard shot, but the defenders efficiently covered the most dangerous angles and Ray Clemence quite easily take care of the ball. The audience thought a goal was coming when Lilcho Ilchov got free with Marco Day in the 35th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Cassius Byrne scored 1-1 in the 37th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Ray Clemence, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. Ray Clemence took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Monty Rogers, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. An unexpectedly hard shot by Monty Rogers in the 42nd minute of play forced PHOENIX SC's goalkeeper Ray Clemence to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. After a very even first half the match was still tied. The players went to their respective dressing rooms to discuss the tactics for the second half.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Frederico Hendrickx stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. Marco Day made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Lilcho Ilchov in the 53rd minute of play. PHOENIX SC's attacker deliberately struck the ball against an opponent to win a corner for his team. The corner was taken by Phoenix Kante in the 54th minute. It was a well-played corner which Samai Asmawan managed to volley towards the net. Unfortunately, he didn't get a great hit on the ball and it went out into the grandstand. Edward Mcdonald might have been able to make a better finish in the 58th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Ray Clemence. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Edward Mcdonald ran back to his position shaking his head. PHOENIX SC made a substitution. Aryeh Markovich replaced Lilcho Ilchov. Samai Asmawan received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 64th minute. Marco Day tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. A hard shot 66 in the game by Cassius Byrne from a close distance when the talented Ray Clemence managed to make a qualified save. PHOENIX SC's players were relieved. Through an outstanding action, after 70 minutes, Ray Clemence successfully got his hands on the ball before it slid into the goal at the right post. In the 73rd minute of the match USA got a corner. PHOENIX SC's goalie ran out to the linesman to protest the call, but the linesman resolutely pointed his flag at the cornerflag. Monty Rogers ran over to the corner to take the kick. In the 76th minute Frederico Hendrickx 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. Severiano Redondas received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 78th minute. Marco Day tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. USA's Khalid Parry was substituted for Monty Rogers. USA made a substitution. Marco Baker replaced Edward Mcdonald. Ray Clemence took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Sam Campbell, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Marco Day showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Samai Asmawan in the 87th minute of the match. The corner ended in Phoenix Kante almost managing to get the ball behind the net, but USA's Marco Day did a great save. In the 90th minute of the match Aryeh Markovich sent off a long shot with destination to the right of the goalkeeper, but Marco Day skillfully saved the ball. Severiano Redondas kicked well hit freekick during the 90th minute of the match. PHOENIX SC's Ray Clemence played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Khalid Parry in the 92nd minute of play. Ray Clemence showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Sam Campbell in the 95th minute of the match.