Challenge

Markowy Stadion
Spectators: 43 (Terracing: 33, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) Markowy Team's Mai Jian Xi 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. When the match had gone on for 3 minutes, Mai Jian Xi put it in 1-0 from a short distance just to the right of Marco Day. The supporters of Markowy Team booed when USA was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 6 match minutes in a wonderful position. Cassius Byrne didn't get a good kick on the ball. Mai Jian Xi blasted a shot towards the goal in the 7th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Marco Day having to make a save. Marco Day showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Mai Jian Xi in the 7th minute of the match. In the 9th minute Monty Rogers shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Artur Boruc saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. 17 minutes into the match, Cassius Byrne had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Artur Boruc. Markowy Team's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Cassius Byrne was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 1-2. In the 26th minute Monty Rogers shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Artur Boruc saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Mai Jian Xi's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Marco Day read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 27th minute of play. 28 minutes had been played when some careless play by USA's defense caused the ball to cross the line for a corner. Ernesto Cirelli was slow to take the kick. During this time Markowy Team's players had a chance to rest. It was a well-played corner which Mai Jian Xi managed to volley towards the net. Unfortunately, he didn't get a great hit on the ball and it went out into the grandstand. Markowy Team's attentive Jaroslaw Rasimowicz managed to snatch the ball when Diego Bradley made a throw-in in the 31st minute of the game. The supporters of Markowy Team booed when USA was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 34 match minutes in a wonderful position. Zach Harrison didn't get a good kick on the ball. Artur Boruc took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Cassius Byrne, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. The crowd was extremely unhappy with the home team's performance in the first half. They were losing 1-2.

58 minutes into the match, Markowy Team's goal looked a bit too open when Cassius Byrne came free, but Artur Boruc reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Marco Day made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Mai Jian Xi in the 60th minute of play. The crowd rose to their feet as Cassius Byrne kicked a wonderful shot that went in to the left of a diving Artur Boruc. That made the score 1-3 in the 62 minute of play. Yu Yong Mo kicked well hit freekick during the 65th minute of the match. Sam Campbell received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 67th minute. Artur Boruc tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. After 73 minutes of play, USA's Edward Mcdonald made it 1-4 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Artur Boruc was left in no man's land by his defense there! Marco Day showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Mai Jian Xi, who was totally free with the ball in the 78th minute. Marco Day didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Mai Jian Xi went, in the 81st minute, to the upper right corner, 2-4 was the resulting score. In the 85th minute, Marco Baker hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Mai Jian Xi took the ball and in the 86 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Marco Day. Marco Day dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 3-4. 95 minutes into the match, Markowy Team's goal looked a bit too open when Sam Campbell came free, but Artur Boruc reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. When the match was over USA could go home with a victory in their luggage, having controlled the game far better than Markowy Team throughout the match.