Challenge

RFK Stadium
Spectators: 45 (Terracing: 35, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) USA's Marco Day played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by 肖希谦 in the 4th minute of play. Eddie Van Halen made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Cassius Byrne in the 7th minute of play. 9 minutes into the match, Independiente's goal looked a bit too open when Edward Mcdonald came free, but Eddie Van Halen reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Marco Day made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Fulgencio Senen in the 10th minute of play. In the 12th minute of the match Independiente 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. Massimo Ruggeri ran over to the corner to take the kick. Fulgencio Senen sent away a hard shot on goal in the 13th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Independiente's Eddie Van Halen played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Monty Rogers in the 24th minute of play. In the 26th minute of the match USA got a corner. Independiente's goalie ran out to the linesman to protest the call, but the linesman resolutely pointed his flag at the cornerflag. Cassius Byrne ran over to the corner to take the kick. After 26 played minutes USA got a freekick which was hit by Diego Bradley. 28 minutes into the match, Independiente's goal looked a bit too open when Monty Rogers came free, but Eddie Van Halen reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After a defensive mix-up in USA's zone, Fulgencio Senen stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Marco Day came out of the goal and Fulgencio Senen tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. In the 35th minute, Celso Bizi hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Celso Bizi sent away a hard shot on goal in the 37th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. With a little luck, Independiente's Eddie Van Halen got control of the ball when Cassius Byrne tried to sneak it across the goal line. The audience thought a goal was coming when Cassius Byrne got free with Eddie Van Halen in the 46th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. An unexpectedly hard shot by Edward Mcdonald in the 48th minute of play forced Independiente's goalkeeper Eddie Van Halen to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. After a very even first half the match was still tied. The players went to their respective dressing rooms to discuss the tactics for the second half.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Cassius Byrne made a kick off. Eddie Van Halen showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Monty Rogers in the 52nd minute of the match. After 52 minutes of play, USA's Monty Rogers made it 1-0 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Eddie Van Halen was left in no man's land by his defense there! An unexpectedly hard shot by Monty Rogers in the 57th minute of play forced Independiente's goalkeeper Eddie Van Halen to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Eddie Van Halen showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Monty Rogers in the 60th minute of the match. Fulgencio Senen's shot when he came free in front of the goal in the 64thth minute, Marco Day skillfully showed off with a save to what seemed to be an obvious goal. The supporters of Independiente booed when USA was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 66 match minutes in a wonderful position. Cassius Byrne didn't get a good kick on the ball. Independiente made a substitution. Arif Egemen Ahsen replaced Ezequiel Locaio. The supporters of Independiente booed when USA was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 67 match minutes in a wonderful position. Cassius Byrne didn't get a good kick on the ball. USA's Marco Day proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 68th minute of the match, managed to save USA from getting a goal against them. USA's Sam Campbell was substituted for Cassius Byrne. USA's Monty Rogers pulled a muscle in his leg after 80 minutes and couldn't finish the game. Massimo Ruggeri charged in rather forcefully in the 80th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Massimo Ruggeri the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. After a rather tough play, Independiente's Massimo Ruggeri got a free kick in the 81st minute. USA's Marco Baker was substituted for Edward Mcdonald. After 82 played minutes Independiente got a freekick which was hit by Massimo Ruggeri. When USA's Khalid Parry in the 84th minute got a chance for a shot 84th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Independiente's goalie prevented a goal. USA's attacker deliberately struck the ball against an opponent to win a corner for his team. The corner was taken by Jenson Smith in the 85th minute. Ildefonso Esiquio tried to clear up in front of the goal, but didn't succeed and rather the ball rolled into the own goal to the right of a despaired Eddie Van Halen. An unnecessary self made goal, 3-0 in the 86th minute. Eddie Van Halen took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Sam Campbell, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. The audience was convinced that Sam Campbell's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Eddie Van Halen was relentless in the 96th minute of the game. There was no doubt that USA were the better team. USA's players enjoyed the ovations of the crowd after the victory.