Challenge

RFK Stadium
Spectators: 49 (Terracing: 38, Seating: 11, VIP seats: 0) The mood of the audience was pleasant when Cassius Byrne made the kick off which started today's match. Marco Day showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Karl-Heinz Schneider, who was totally free with the ball in the 4th minute. The crowd rose to their feet as USA's Edward Mcdonald slotted home a wonderful shot that went in to the left of Laurențiu Susara. That made the score 1-0 after 9 minutes of play. 12 minutes into the match, USA's goal looked a bit too open when Valerios Voutsas came free, but Marco Day reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Monty Rogers fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 20th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Laurențiu Susara having to interfere. Marco Day took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Valerios Voutsas, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. The supporters of USA booed when Saronida FC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 25 match minutes in a wonderful position. Stelios Skountouflas didn't get a good kick on the ball. With a little luck, Saronida FC's Laurențiu Susara got control of the ball when Cassius Byrne tried to sneak it across the goal line. Marco Day showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Veniamin Zisimopoulos in the 31st minute of the match. 34 minutes into the match, Saronida FC's goalkeeper Laurențiu Susara had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Edward Mcdonald. After some fancy dribbling in the 35th minute, Valerios Voutsas managed to get in a good position for a shot. Saronida FC's supporters rose to their feet, but Valerios Voutsas 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. Veniamin Zisimopoulos sent away a hard shot on goal in the 43rd minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. Marco Day showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Veniamin Zisimopoulos, who was totally free with the ball in the 43rd minute. Monty Rogers was extremely unlucky when he, in the 47th minute, took a shot that hit the right post and went out. 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.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Valerios Voutsas stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. 53 minutes had been played when some careless play by Saronida 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. In the 54th minute Monty Rogers shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Laurențiu Susara saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Laurențiu Susara took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Edward Mcdonald, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Karl-Heinz Schneider fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 59th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Marco Day having to interfere. Saronida FC made a substitution. Jonas Pacheco replaced Eleftherios Vasdekis. Saronida FC's Huang Tian Yun was substituted for Valerios Voutsas. After a rather tough play, USA's Koby Fletcher got a free kick in the 63rd minute. Laurențiu Susara made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Monty Rogers in the 66th minute of play. Huang Tian Yun fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 71st minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Marco Day having to interfere. After having played for 73 minutes, Veniamin Zisimopoulos managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Saronida FC's supporters crossed their fingers, but Veniamin Zisimopoulos was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Veniamin Zisimopoulos blasted a shot towards the goal in the 75th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Marco Day having to make a save. USA's Khalid Parry was substituted for Monty Rogers. In the 78th minute Veniamin Zisimopoulos 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. After a rather tough play, Saronida FC's Nikos Andreadakis got a free kick in the 79th minute. Karl-Heinz Schneider received a nice pass, split the defenders, and ran untouched towards the goal. Marco Day came out and tried to block the shot, but Karl-Heinz Schneider slotted it home off the left post making it 1-1 in the 88th minute. After 92 played minutes Saronida FC got a freekick which was hit by Karmel Gian. An unexpectedly hard shot by Sam Campbell in the 93rd minute of play forced Saronida FC's goalkeeper Laurențiu Susara to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. After 94 played minutes USA got a freekick which was hit by Jenson Smith. USA's Marco Day proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 95th minute of the match, managed to save USA from getting a goal against them. USA were disappointed that they only managed a draw, even though they felt themselves to be the better team.