Challenge

RFK Stadium
Spectators: 49 (Terracing: 38, Seating: 11, VIP seats: 0) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Cassius Byrne took the kick off in the first half of the match. After 2 minutes, Alejandro Espina mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Roneros F.C. and the USA players grew even worse after the yellow card. In the 2nd minute, Alejandro Espina hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Marco Day made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Witomir Jestrimski in the 4th minute of play. 7 minutes into the game, one of USA:s players got tackled near the goal, and the referee blew for a penalty. Marco Day took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Alejandro Espina, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 12th minute of the match Roneros F.C. 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. Cordero Aberasturi ran over to the corner to take the kick. Roneros F.C.'s attacker deliberately struck the ball against an opponent to win a corner for his team. The corner was taken by Cordero Aberasturi in the 14th minute. Marco Day showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Romão Mourato, who was totally free with the ball in the 15th minute. Romão Mourato scored 0-2 in the 17th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Marco Day, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. 19 minutes into the match, USA's goal looked a bit too open when Alejandro Espina came free, but Marco Day reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Roneros F.C.'s Ricardo Ceberiche played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Monty Rogers in the 21st minute of play. Ricardo Ceberiche made a fantastic save in the 22nd minute, when Cassius Byrne sent off a good shot on target. An unexpectedly hard shot by Alejandro Espina in the 23rd minute of play forced USA's goalkeeper Marco Day to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Cassius Byrnes short, quick shot in the 26thth minute got Ricardo Ceberiche to make great effort and bar the ball away from getting in. In the 27th minute USA were awarded a corner. Cassius Byrne went to the cornerflag to take it. Marco Day showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Witomir Jestrimski, who was totally free with the ball in the 29th minute. The audience was convinced that Witomir Jestrimski's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Marco Day was relentless in the 31st minute of the game. Marco Day showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Alejandro Espina, who was totally free with the ball in the 37th minute. Marco Day stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Romão Mourato's shot from short distance in the 38th minute. 40 minutes into the match, Roneros F.C.'s goal looked a bit too open when Edward Mcdonald came free, but Ricardo Ceberiche reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 40th minute Edward Mcdonald shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Ricardo Ceberiche saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Alejandro Espina fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 42nd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Marco Day having to interfere. Alejandro Espina sent away a hard shot on goal in the 47th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Even after changing tactics the home team jogged off the field with a 0-2 deficit. They would have to work harder if they wanted to turn things around in the second half.

In the 53rd minute the ball was on its way in behind USA's goalkeeper Marco Day, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. In the 56th minute Monty Rogers shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Ricardo Ceberiche saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. The audience thought a goal was coming when Ortiz Apellaniz got free with Marco Day in the 60th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Alejandro Espina in the 65th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Marco Day saved USA from getting behind. It was a well-played corner which Ortiz Apellaniz managed to volley towards the net. Unfortunately, he didn't get a great hit on the ball and it went out into the grandstand. Ricardo Ceberiche made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Monty Rogers in the 72nd minute of play. Edward Mcdonald took the ball and in the 82 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Ricardo Ceberiche. Ricardo Ceberiche dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 1-2. USA's Marco Baker was substituted for Edward Mcdonald. Roneros F.C. made a substitution. Zilar Aleson replaced Ortiz Apellaniz. After 88 minutes of play, USA's Khalid Parry made it 2-2 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Ricardo Ceberiche was left in no man's land by his defense there! Ricardo Ceberiche 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 92nd minute. In the 93rd minute, Sam Campbell ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Ricardo Ceberiche was frozen by the shot and now it was 3-2. There was no doubt that USA were the better team. USA's players enjoyed the ovations of the crowd after the victory.