Challenge

RFK Stadium
Spectators: 47 (Terracing: 36, Seating: 11, VIP seats: 0) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Cassius Byrne got the match started through his kick off. The supporters of USA booed when AEK S.C was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 3 match minutes in a wonderful position. Aníbal Lima didn't get a good kick on the ball. After 8 played minutes AEK S.C got a freekick which was hit by Sakis Tavlaridis. In the 10thth minute of the game Jelte Bleiswijk who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but USA's Marco Day was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. Konstantinos Kouventolakis hit a great freekick 13 minutes into the match. In the 15th minute, Cassius Byrne made a precise shot to the right of Thanasis Koltsidas. AEK S.C's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 1-0. In the 21st minute, Jelte Bleiswijk left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The AEK S.C fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 1-1. Thanasis Koltsidas made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Cassius Byrne in the 24th minute of play. Jelte Bleiswijk fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 29th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Marco Day having to interfere. In the 33rd minute, Kevin Carreira ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Marco Day was frozen by the shot and now it was 1-2. AEK S.C's Thanasis Koltsidas played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Monty Rogers in the 36th minute of play. The audience was convinced that Jelte Bleiswijk's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Marco Day was relentless in the 40th minute of the game. Cassius Byrne's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Thanasis Koltsidas read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 42nd minute of play. 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.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Jelte Bleiswijk to make the kick off. Monty Rogers's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Thanasis Koltsidas read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 52nd minute of play. Cassius Byrne sent away a hard shot on goal in the 54th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Cassius Byrne fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 60th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Thanasis Koltsidas having to interfere. Marco Day made a fantastic save in the 61st minute, when Jelte Bleiswijk sent off a good shot on target. Kevin Carreira's shot straight on target was not completely harmless. The ball had pretty good speed, but Marco Day firmly grabbed it by the left post. Cassius Byrne received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 66th minute. Thanasis Koltsidas tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. In the 69th minute Monty Rogers shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Thanasis Koltsidas saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. An unexpectedly hard shot by Jelte Bleiswijk in the 72nd minute of play forced USA's goalkeeper Marco Day to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. 77 minutes into the match, USA's goalkeeper Marco Day had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Donzel Goyeneta. In the 79thth minute of the game Donzel Goyeneta who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but USA's Marco Day was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. In the 80th minute Sam Campbell shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Thanasis Koltsidas saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. AEK S.C's Thanasis Koltsidas played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Monty Rogers in the 82nd minute of play. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Monty Rogers in the 84th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Thanasis Koltsidas saved AEK S.C from getting behind. AEK S.C's Thalis Krommidas was substituted for Donzel Goyeneta. USA made a substitution. Marco Baker replaced Edward Mcdonald. AEK S.C's Thomas Papatrechas was substituted for Sakis Tavlaridis. USA's attacker deliberately struck the ball against an opponent to win a corner for his team. The corner was taken by Jenson Smith in the 87th minute. Konstantinos Kouventolakis hit a great freekick 91 minutes into the match. After some fancy dribbling in the 91st minute, Jenson Smith managed to get in a good position for a shot. USA's supporters rose to their feet, but Jenson Smith was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Thanasis Koltsidas breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Sam Campbell sent away a hard shot on goal in the 95th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance.