Challenge

VHD STADIUM
Spectators: 42 (Terracing: 32, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) Marco Day showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Florin Simuţ, who was totally free with the ball in the 4th minute. 6 minutes into the match, USA's goal looked a bit too open when Florin Simuţ came free, but Marco Day reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Marco Day made an important save on a dangerous shot by Jiang Sha in the 8th minute. Florin Simuţ fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 9th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Marco Day having to interfere. In the 17th minute of the match Celestiales got a corner. USA's goalie ran out to the linesman to protest the call, but the linesman resolutely pointed his flag at the cornerflag. Jiang Sha ran over to the corner to take the kick. Iker Madrid took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Monty Rogers, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. The audience was convinced that Cassius Byrne's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Iker Madrid was relentless in the 22nd minute of the game. Celestiales's Iker Madrid played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Edward Mcdonald in the 25th minute of play. 26 minutes into the match, Cassius Byrne notched a goal, 1-1, to the right of Celestiales's Iker Madrid. Iker Madrid was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. In the 29th minute Cassius Byrne shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Iker Madrid saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Edward Mcdonald's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Iker Madrid read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 30th minute of play. Celestiales's Iker Madrid played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Monty Rogers in the 31st minute of play. After a defensive mix-up in USA's zone, Santiago Abreu stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Marco Day came out of the goal and Santiago Abreu tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. After some careless play in the USA defense, Jiang Sha kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Marco Day. The USA fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Marco Day should have stopped the shot. Raphael Moore kicked well hit freekick during the 38th minute of the match. Monty Rogers struck a weak shot in the 42nd minute. Iker Madrid didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for USA. Santiago Abreu fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 44th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Marco Day having to interfere. In the 46th minute, Albano Millan hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Af the end of the first half the score was 2-1. The first half had gone as expected for the home team.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Cassius Byrne was the one to do the kick off. The audience thought a goal was coming when Cassius Byrne got free with Iker Madrid in the 51st minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Iker Madrid 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 54th minute. In the 55th minute USA were awarded a corner. Cassius Byrne went to the cornerflag to take it. The corner led USA's Cassius Byrne to fire away a dangerous shot which Iker Madrid despite some difficulties managed to get hold on the ball. Iker Madrid stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Edward Mcdonald's shot from short distance in the 55th minute. When Rigoberto Botello came up free with the goalie in the 57th minute, the Celestiales fans jumped to their feet. But the shot missed the goal by a fraction of an inch, and the fans sat back down disappointed that Rigoberto Botello couldn't finish the play. Celestiales's attentive Nélson Laureano managed to snatch the ball when Raphael Moore made a throw-in in the 60th minute of the game. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Santiago Abreu in the 61st managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Marco Day saved USA from getting behind. 65 minutes into the match, USA's goal looked a bit too open when Santiago Abreu came free, but Marco Day reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Jiang Sha sent away a hard shot on goal in the 69th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. USA's Sam Campbell was substituted for Cassius Byrne. Celestiales's Iker Madrid played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Monty Rogers in the 75th minute of play. When Eustaquio Eudoxio came up free with the goalie in the 78th minute, the Celestiales fans jumped to their feet. But the shot missed the goal by a fraction of an inch, and the fans sat back down disappointed that Eustaquio Eudoxio couldn't finish the play. The referee blew the whistle for a penalty in the 83rd minute of the game. One of USA:s players had nearly got his shirt torn off by an opponent while getting free in front of Celestiales:s goal. USA:s Marco Day showed great skill when he stopped Jiang Sha:s penalty. USA's Marco Baker was substituted for Edward Mcdonald. If Jenson Smith had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 92nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. Sam Campbell could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 96th minute of the match, but Iker Madrid made a huge save. The audience was convinced that Sam Campbell's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Iker Madrid was relentless in the 96th minute of the game. The home crowd let out a huge roar when the referee blew for the end of the game. Celestiales were victorious despite being under pressure from USA for much of the match.