Challenge

NATIONAL ARENA
Spectators: 40 (Terracing: 31, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) After 5 played minutes UFC STEAUA got a freekick which was hit by Mugur Basarabescu. In the 8th minute of the match Venezuela got a corner. UFC STEAUA's goalie ran out to the linesman to protest the call, but the linesman resolutely pointed his flag at the cornerflag. Tomas Illescas ran over to the corner to take the kick. After taking down the ball on Venezuela's corner Jonathan Venegas fired away a hard shot, but the defenders efficiently covered the most dangerous angles and João Massa quite easily take care of the ball. 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 20th minute. The corner went over the outstretched arms of UFC STEAUA's goalie and right to Jonathan Venegas. He fired away a shot at goal, but the shot had too much spin, and it went just outside the goal. UFC STEAUA's manager breathed a sigh of relief on the sidelines as his team had managed to escape an almost certain goal. In the 22nd minute, Xu Yue Yuan hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Jonathan Ferrant didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Nelson Mendoza went, in the 31st minute, to the upper right corner, 1-0 was the resulting score. When Xu Yue Yuan fell near the penalty area in the 36th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored UFC STEAUA's protests and gave Xu Yue Yuan a yellow card for diving instead. Nelson Mendoza received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 41st minute. Jonathan Ferrant tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Tomas Illescas sent away a hard shot on goal in the 44th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. 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.

Gigel Seremet took the ball and in the 51 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Jonathan Ferrant. Jonathan Ferrant dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 2-0. Mugur Nisipeanu fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 54th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Jonathan Ferrant having to interfere. João Massa 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 57th minute. Tomas Illescas who was well placed in front of the goal fired away a dangerous shot that in the 58thth minute tested the skills of João Massa when he managed to save the team from getting behind. The UFC STEAUA fans' excitement grew in the 61st match minute when UFC STEAUA's Nelson Mendoza looked to have a clear shot with the ball near the goal. The shot wasn't hard, but the ball still rolled over the goal line to make it 3-0 before the goalkeeper had a chance to intervene. After 73 played minutes UFC STEAUA got a freekick which was hit by Mugur Basarabescu. Jonathan Ferrant stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Nelson Mendoza's shot from short distance in the 77th minute. Jose Correa kicked well hit freekick during the 77th minute of the match. In the 79th minute, Nelson Mendoza left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The UFC STEAUA fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 4-0. In the 83rd match minute, UFC STEAUA was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Nelson Mendoza to maneuver through the defense. Mugur Nisipeanu struck a weak shot in the 87th minute. Jonathan Ferrant didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for UFC STEAUA. 95 minutes into the match, Nelson Mendoza notched a goal, 5-0, to the right of Venezuela's Jonathan Ferrant. Jonathan Ferrant was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. UFC STEAUA's supporters were delighted with their team's performance and swarmed onto the pitch at the end of the match to celebrate the victory with the players.