Challenge

Estadio Olímpico
Spectators: 45 (Terracing: 35, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when Cristinel Nicodim kicked off to start the match. After 2 minutes, Patricio Costa mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Venezuela and the BlueLionesse players grew even worse after the yellow card. The supporters of BlueLionesse booed when Venezuela was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 3 match minutes in a wonderful position. Patricio Costa didn't get a good kick on the ball. In the 8th minute, Octavian Isărescu had to be helped off the field due to a pulled leg muscle. Camilo Gaos's late challenge caught a BlueLionesse's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Camilo Gaos helped the player get up and apologised. In the 9th match minute, Venezuela was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Camilo Gaos to maneuver through the defense. After a rather tough play, BlueLionesse's Matthew Tielve got a free kick in the 10th minute. Augustin Ştefănuţ fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 14th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Jonathan Ferrant having to interfere. 15 minutes into the game, Radu Pânzaru was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. BlueLionesse's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Venezuela the free kick. A collision led to BlueLionesse getting a freekick after 16 minutes play. Radu Pânzaru hit a great ball. Venezuela's attacker deliberately struck the ball against an opponent to win a corner for his team. The corner was taken by Tomas Illescas in the 18th minute. Tomas Illescas made a great header on Venezuela's corner, it was just that BlueLionesse's Ilie Crainic managed to reach the ball for a save. Rigoberto Mina kicked well hit freekick during the 19th minute of the match. In the 19th minute, Rigoberto Mina fired away a free kick at the goal, but hit it at the wrong angle and it went over the crossbar. Mihail Albu scored 0-1 in the 21st match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Jonathan Ferrant, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. 23 minutes into the match, BlueLionesse's goal looked a bit too open when Tomas Illescas came free, but Ilie Crainic reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After 24 played minutes Venezuela got a freekick which was hit by Jonathan Venegas. BlueLionesse's Ilie Crainic proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 27th minute of the match, managed to save BlueLionesse from getting a goal against them. Cristinel Nicodim struck a weak shot in the 28th minute. Jonathan Ferrant didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for BlueLionesse. Venezuela's Jonathan Ferrant played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Cristinel Nicodim in the 30th minute of play. Venezuela's Jonathan Ferrant played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Cristinel Nicodim in the 34th minute of play. In the 35th minute Cristinel Nicodim 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. Sebastian Mailat fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 38th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Jonathan Ferrant having to interfere. Cristinel Nicodim kicked well hit freekick during the 45th minute of the match. After the first half BlueLionesse were leading 0-1. They had played with great self confidence throughout the first half and fully deserved their lead.

The wind increased when Tomas Illescas made the kick off in the second half. Jonathan Ferrant made a fantastic save in the 56th minute, when Augustin Ştefănuţ sent off a good shot on target. In the 57th match minute, Venezuela was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Camilo Gaos to maneuver through the defense. Mihail Albu charged in rather forcefully in the 60th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Mihail Albu the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. After 60 played minutes BlueLionesse got a freekick which was hit by Mihail Albu. 62 minutes into the match, Venezuela's goal looked a bit too open when Cristinel Nicodim came free, but Jonathan Ferrant reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 70th minute, Mihail Albu got an opportunity to score, but he didn't get a solid hit on the ball and ended up kicking it wide of the goal. The supporters of Venezuela booed when BlueLionesse was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 72 match minutes in a wonderful position. Cristinel Nicodim didn't get a good kick on the ball. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Matthew Tielve during the 75th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. In the 78th minute Cristinel Nicodim 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. Venezuela's Jonathan Ferrant played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Cristinel Nicodim in the 78th minute of play. The audience thought a goal was coming when Cristinel Nicodim got free with Jonathan Ferrant in the 82nd minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Mihail Albu came free with the goalkeeper in the 83rd minute of the match, and shot straight on target. The shot was a little too simple and Jonathan Ferrant could save by the left post. 85 minutes into the game, BlueLionesse's Sebastian Mailat nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Jonathan Ferrant made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 0-2. Han Shi Chao made in the 91st minute of the game a fairly good throw-in which was taken care of by Mihail Albu. BlueLionesse played a much better game than Venezuela and deserved their victory. The Venezuela players were clearly disappointed as they left the ground.