Challenge

RFK Stadium
Spectators: 45 (Terracing: 35, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when Cassius Byrne kicked off to start the match. 4 minutes into the match, A.D. Puente Cantalojas's goal looked a bit too open when Monty Rogers came free, but Atauri Salan reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. USA's attacker deliberately struck the ball against an opponent to win a corner for his team. The corner was taken by Cassius Byrne in the 5th minute. Cassius Byrne made a great header on USA's corner, it was just that A.D. Puente Cantalojas's Atauri Salan managed to reach the ball for a save. The audience thought a goal was coming when Cassius Byrne got free with Atauri Salan in the 8th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. A.D. Puente Cantalojas's Atauri Salan proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 9th minute of the match, managed to save A.D. Puente Cantalojas from getting a goal against them. 17 minutes into the match, Cassius Byrne notched a goal, 1-0, to the right of A.D. Puente Cantalojas's Atauri Salan. Atauri Salan was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. Atauri Salan took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Cassius Byrne, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 24th minute, Cassius Byrne fired away a shot on goal. He put a little to much spin on the ball and sent it just wide of the right post. In the 26th match minute, USA was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Edward Mcdonald to maneuver through the defense. When USA's Cassius Byrne in the 31st minute got a chance for a shot 31st didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye A.D. Puente Cantalojas's goalie prevented a goal. 35 minutes into the match, A.D. Puente Cantalojas's goalkeeper Atauri Salan had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Edward Mcdonald. After having played for 43 minutes, Erland Odman managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. A.D. Puente Cantalojas's supporters crossed their fingers, but Erland Odman was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. When the referee blew for the end of the half the home team players were clearly happier, as they went in to the break leading 2-0.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Carlos Camarasa stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. Edward Mcdonald received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 51st minute. Atauri Salan tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. 53 minutes into the match, A.D. Puente Cantalojas's goal looked a bit too open when Cassius Byrne came free, but Atauri Salan reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Atauri Salan showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Cassius Byrne, who was totally free with the ball in the 56th minute. 57 minutes had been played when some careless play by A.D. Puente Cantalojas's defense caused the ball to cross the line for a corner. Cassius Byrne was slow to take the kick. During this time USA's players had a chance to rest. A nice corner shot did that Edward Mcdonald got away a dangerous shot. Despite this Atauri Salan quite easily got ahold of the ball to make the save. USA were awarded a corner in the 58th minute after A.D. Puente Cantalojas's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Cassius Byrne took the corner. USA's Diego Bradley was first on the ball when the corner was shot and he dangerously headed the ball towards goal, but Atauri Salan in the goal jumped up to prevent it from getting in. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Cassius Byrne in the 62nd managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Atauri Salan saved A.D. Puente Cantalojas from getting behind. Atauri Salan showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Cassius Byrne, who was totally free with the ball in the 67th minute. 69 minutes into the match, USA's Cassius Byrne sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Atauri Salan narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Cassius Byrne fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 72nd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Atauri Salan having to interfere. USA's Sam Campbell was substituted for Cassius Byrne. USA's Sam Campbell got a good chance for a goal in the 75th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. USA made a substitution. Khalid Parry replaced Monty Rogers. Marco Day showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Carlos Camarasa in the 90th minute of the match. In the 95th minute Khalid Parry shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Atauri Salan saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Khalid Parry was in a good position and managed to take a shot, but he missed just to the outside of the post. USA walked away with a well-earned victory that was much celebrated by the crowd.