Challenge

Queen Arena
Spectators: 42 (Terracing: 32, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) Emerald's Victor Piţurcă started the match with a crisp pass. The crowd had been anticipating this game for weeks and the excitement in the stadium was easily visible. 3 minutes into the match, Victor Piţurcă notched a goal, 1-0, to the right of Venezuela's Jonathan Ferrant. Jonathan Ferrant was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. In the 6th match minute, Venezuela was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Guillermo Mariano to maneuver through the defense. Venezuela's Jonathan Ferrant proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 8th minute of the match, managed to save Venezuela from getting a goal against them. Victor Piţurcă blasted a shot towards the goal in the 9th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Jonathan Ferrant having to make a save. In the 11th match minute, Emerald was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Gabriel Vermeşan to maneuver through the defense. After having played for 14 minutes, Tomas Illescas managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Venezuela's supporters crossed their fingers, but Tomas Illescas was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. 18 minutes into the match, Venezuela's goal looked a bit too open when Victor Piţurcă came free, but Jonathan Ferrant reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. 19 minutes into the match, Tomas Illescas notched a goal, 1-1, to the right of Emerald's Bogdan Lobonț. Bogdan Lobonț was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. Victor Piţurcă sent away a hard shot on goal in the 21st minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. 22 minutes into the match, Venezuela's goal looked a bit too open when Victor Piţurcă came free, but Jonathan Ferrant reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. If Tomas Illescas had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 23rd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Tomas Illescas in the 26th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Bogdan Lobonț prevented the ball from getting in the gole. If Patricio Costa had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 28th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After a rather tough play, Venezuela's Guillermo Mariano got a free kick in the 33rd minute. In the 38th minute, Tomas Illescas left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The Venezuela fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 1-2. Jonathan Ferrant stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Jaime Carioca's shot from short distance in the 41st minute. After 41 minutes, Jaime Carioca made it 2-2 with a short kick to the right side. Venezuela's Jonathan Ferrant tried to save the shot but he was too slow in reacting to the shot. The supporters of Emerald booed when Venezuela was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 45 match minutes in a wonderful position. Tomas Illescas didn't get a good kick on the ball. Jonathan Ferrant made a fantastic save in the 46th minute, when Victor Piţurcă sent off a good shot on target. Emerald made a substitution. Ioan Logofătu replaced Julio Iglesias. Camilo Gaos kicked well hit freekick during the 48th minute of the match. In the 49th minute, Jaime Carioca sent off a long shot on goal, but the shot was nowhere near the goal and Venezuela's Jonathan Ferrant didn't even have to move. The first half was very even, with the score at 2-2 when the whistle went for half-time. The players welcomed the break and quickly retired to the dressing rooms.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Tomas Illescas was the one to do the kick off. In the 58th minute Victor Piţurcă shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Jonathan Ferrant saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Jaime Carioca received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 59th minute. Jonathan Ferrant tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Jaime Carioca recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 61st minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. A collision led to Venezuela getting a freekick after 62 minutes play. Jose Correa hit a great ball. Ioan Logofătu sent away a hard shot on goal in the 67th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Patricio Costa took a chance and fired a shot far from the goal in the 69th minute, but it turned out to be a dangerous situation for Bogdan Lobonț. Emerald's goalkeeper really had to stretch himself to stop the ball from crossing the goal line. In the 71stth minute of the game Victor Piţurcă who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Venezuela's Jonathan Ferrant was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. An unexpectedly hard shot by Victor Piţurcă in the 75th minute of play forced Venezuela's goalkeeper Jonathan Ferrant to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Venezuela's Jonathan Ferrant played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Victor Piţurcă in the 78th minute of play. After a rather tough play, Venezuela's Rigoberto Mina got a free kick in the 81st minute. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Guillermo Mariano during the 82nd minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. In the 83rd minute, Guillermo Mariano hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Jonathan Ferrant stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Victor Piţurcă's shot from short distance in the 86th minute. The referee blew the whistle for a penalty in the 88th minute of the game. One of Emerald:s players had nearly got his shirt torn off by an opponent while getting free in front of Venezuela:s goal. Victor Piţurcă sent away a hard shot on goal in the 93rd minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. If Victor Piţurcă had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 95th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Alex Chicote hit a great freekick 98 minutes into the match. The Venezuela supporters could be heard counting down the last seconds of the match. They errupted in celebration when the whistle blew, knowing Venezuela would go home with victory in their luggage after a match that easily could have ended differently.