Challenge

Stadio Puianello
Spectators: 44 (Terracing: 34, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) 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. In the 6th minute the ball was on its way in behind Puianello FC's goalkeeper Darrel Pennington, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. After taking down the ball on USA's corner Raphael Moore fired away a hard shot, but the defenders efficiently covered the most dangerous angles and Darrel Pennington quite easily take care of the ball. 9 minutes had been played when some careless play by Puianello FC'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 Diego Bradley drilling the ball in to score 0-1 behind Puianello FC's goalkeeper. After 18 minutes of play, USA's Cassius Byrne made it 1-2 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Darrel Pennington was left in no man's land by his defense there! Darrel Pennington 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 21st minute. 26 minutes into the match, Puianello FC's goal looked a bit too open when Cassius Byrne came free, but Darrel Pennington reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. 36 minutes into the match, Puianello FC's goal looked a bit too open when Monty Rogers came free, but Darrel Pennington reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Even after changing tactics the home team jogged off the field with a 1-2 deficit. They would have to work harder if they wanted to turn things around in the second half.

With a couple of smart ball manuevers Göksel Taşdan in the 51st managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Marco Day saved USA from getting behind. Darrel Pennington took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Edward Mcdonald, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 57th minute Marcell Jacobs 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. Puianello FC's Darrel Pennington played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Monty Rogers in the 58th minute of play. Cassius Byrne could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 61st minute of the match, but Darrel Pennington made a huge save. Darrel Pennington made a fantastic save in the 64th minute, when Monty Rogers sent off a good shot on target. Cassius Byrne fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 65th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Darrel Pennington having to interfere. The audience was convinced that Monty Rogers's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Darrel Pennington was relentless in the 73rd minute of the game. Darrel Pennington made a fantastic save in the 75th minute, when Sam Campbell sent off a good shot on target. Göksel Taşdan struck a weak shot in the 84th 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 Puianello FC. Marco Day showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Göksel Taşdan in the 87th minute of the match. Darrel Pennington 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 90th minute. USA made a substitution. Khalid Parry replaced Monty Rogers. In the 93rd minute USA were awarded a corner. Jenson Smith went to the cornerflag to take it. The corner led USA's Marco Baker to fire away a dangerous shot which Darrel Pennington despite some difficulties managed to get hold on the ball. In the 97th minute USA were awarded a corner. Jenson Smith went to the cornerflag to take it. After 98 minutes Puianello FC's defender was forced to head the ball over the line for a corner. It was Jenson Smith who took care of the corner kick. USA's players went to the stands to thank the travelling support. The fan's backing had helped spurr the team on to a fine performance that won them the match.