Challenge

RFK Stadium
Spectators: 45 (Terracing: 35, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Attilio Di Loreto took the kick off in the first half of the match. In the 5th minute Monty Rogers shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Di Han Guo saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Lipa KS were awarded a corner in the 8th minute after USA's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Zula Kiepski took the corner. Lipa KS's Di Han Guo played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Jenson Smith in the 13th minute of play. After having played for 16 minutes, Attilio Di Loreto managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Lipa KS's supporters crossed their fingers, but Attilio Di Loreto was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. In the 19th minute Attilio Di Loreto 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. 27 minutes into the match, Lipa KS's goal looked a bit too open when Monty Rogers came free, but Di Han Guo reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Cassius Byrne received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 37th minute. Di Han Guo tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. In the 41st minute, Cassius Byrne ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Di Han Guo was frozen by the shot and now it was 2-0. Marco Day made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Attilio Di Loreto in the 45th minute of play. The away team players looked dejected as the walked off the pitch at half time. They had fought hard, but were still losing 2-0.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Cassius Byrne made a kick off. Marco Day showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Attilio Di Loreto in the 51st minute of the match. The audience was convinced that Monty Rogers's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Di Han Guo was relentless in the 62nd minute of the game. Monty Rogers fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 67th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Di Han Guo having to interfere. Lipa KS's Daniel Argoitz was substituted for Wladyslaw Niewiadomski. Lipa KS's Arkadiusz Juszkowski was substituted for Zula Kiepski. Di Han Guo took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Zach Harrison, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Di Han Guo showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Sam Campbell, who was totally free with the ball in the 73rd minute. After a defensive mix-up in USA's zone, Attilio Di Loreto stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Marco Day came out of the goal and Attilio Di Loreto tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. USA made a substitution. Marco Baker replaced Edward Mcdonald. Lipa KS's Di Han Guo played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Sam Campbell in the 81st minute of play. USA's Marco Day proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 82nd minute of the match, managed to save USA from getting a goal against them. 88 minutes into the match, USA's goalkeeper Marco Day had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Attilio Di Loreto. Attilio Di Loreto recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 89th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Di Han Guo showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Khalid Parry, who was totally free with the ball in the 93rd minute. An unexpectedly hard shot by Marco Baker in the 95th minute of play forced Lipa KS's goalkeeper Di Han Guo to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. USA'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.