Challenge

Alçapão da Baixada
Spectators: 44 (Terracing: 34, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) After 5 played minutes USA got a freekick which was hit by Jacob May. Laércio Penha received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 6th minute. Marco Day tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Marco Day made an important save on a dangerous shot by Laércio Penha in the 9th minute. 15 minutes into the match, Nova Iguaçu MZFC's goal looked a bit too open when Monty Rogers came free, but Mickaël Maris reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. 16 minutes had been played when some careless play by Nova Iguaçu MZFC'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 Monty Rogers fired away a hard shot, but the defenders efficiently covered the most dangerous angles and Mickaël Maris quite easily take care of the ball. If Laércio Penha had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 18th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. A hard shot 18 in the game by Laércio Penha from a close distance when the talented Marco Day managed to make a qualified save. USA's players were relieved. Marco Day made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Laércio Penha in the 21st minute of play. 24 minutes into the match, USA's goal looked a bit too open when Laércio Penha came free, but Marco Day reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 26th minute Cassius Byrne shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Mickaël Maris saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Mickaël Maris 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 29th minute. 30 minutes had been played when some careless play by Nova Iguaçu MZFC'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. Edward Mcdonald made a great header on USA's corner, it was just that Nova Iguaçu MZFC's Mickaël Maris managed to reach the ball for a save. Mickaël Maris took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Cassius Byrne, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 33rd minute Cassius Byrne shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Mickaël Maris saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. When Laércio Penha came up free with the goalie in the 35th minute, the Nova Iguaçu MZFC 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 Laércio Penha couldn't finish the play. 39 minutes into the match, Nova Iguaçu MZFC's goal looked a bit too open when Cassius Byrne came free, but Mickaël Maris reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. When USA's Cassius Byrne in the 40th minute got a chance for a shot 40th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Nova Iguaçu MZFC's goalie prevented a goal. After some careless play in the Nova Iguaçu MZFC defense, Edward Mcdonald kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Mickaël Maris. The Nova Iguaçu MZFC fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Mickaël Maris should have stopped the shot. Mickaël Maris took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Cassius Byrne, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Even after changing tactics the home team jogged off the field with a 0-1 deficit. They would have to work harder if they wanted to turn things around in the second half.

Luiz Fábio de Medeiros kicked well hit freekick during the 55th minute of the match. Mickaël Maris made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Edward Mcdonald in the 57th minute of play. 62 minutes into the game, Laércio Penha cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 1-1. Marco Day was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. Mickaël Maris showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Monty Rogers in the 65th minute of the match. 66 minutes had been played when some careless play by Nova Iguaçu MZFC'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. A well done corner resulted in Raphael Moore drilling the ball in to score 1-2 behind Nova Iguaçu MZFC's goalkeeper. USA's Sam Campbell was substituted for Cassius Byrne. Laércio Penha struck a weak shot in the 73rd minute. Marco Day didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Nova Iguaçu MZFC. In the 82nd match minute, Nova Iguaçu MZFC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Nery Dominguez to maneuver through the defense. USA's supporters stood up full of expectation in the 83rd minute of the game, when Diego Bradley after an extraordinary solo performance found himself with a golden opportunity in front of Nova Iguaçu MZFC's goal. Diego Bradley was unfortunally a little to anxious and the ball went outside the goal. 87 minutes into the match, Nova Iguaçu MZFC's goalkeeper Mickaël Maris had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Sam Campbell. Diego Bradley made in the 89th minute of the game a throw-in that took a bad bounce and was taken care of by Nova Iguaçu MZFC's Luiz Fábio de Medeiros. Mickaël Maris made a fantastic save in the 93rd minute, when Sam Campbell sent off a good shot on target. In the 95th minute Khalid Parry shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Mickaël Maris saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Mickaël Maris was a little too slow when Khalid Parry got a fine hit on the ball which went right into the goal in the 96th minute. The score was now 1-3. The Nova Iguaçu MZFC fans had already started to leave before the final whistle blew. USA were clearly better and deserved to take the win.