Challenge

RFK Stadium
Spectators: 47 (Terracing: 36, Seating: 11, VIP seats: 0) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Cassius Byrne started the match with the kick off. Xarilaou FC's Kostas Kourmouzis proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 4th minute of the match, managed to save Xarilaou FC from getting a goal against them. An unexpectedly hard shot by Edward Mcdonald in the 7th minute of play forced Xarilaou FC's goalkeeper Kostas Kourmouzis to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Xarilaou FC's Kostas Kourmouzis proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 8th minute of the match, managed to save Xarilaou FC from getting a goal against them. 10 minutes into the match, Xarilaou FC's goal looked a bit too open when Monty Rogers came free, but Kostas Kourmouzis reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 16th minute Monty Rogers shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Kostas Kourmouzis saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 18th minute Cassius Byrne shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Kostas Kourmouzis saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 25th minute, Fanis Skaltsas ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Marco Day was frozen by the shot and now it was 0-1. When the match clock showed 31 minutes, the score became 2-1 when Monty Rogers sped through Xarilaou FC's defense and sent away a curving shot that went into the net to the right of Kostas Kourmouzis. The audience thought a goal was coming when Cassius Byrne got free with Kostas Kourmouzis in the 34th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Af the end of the first half the score was 2-1. The first half had gone as expected for the home team.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Thodoris Loubakis to strike the kick off in the second half. 54 minutes into the match, Xarilaou FC's goal looked a bit too open when Monty Rogers came free, but Kostas Kourmouzis reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Xarilaou FC were awarded a corner in the 63th minute after USA's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Fanis Skaltsas took the corner. If Fanis Skaltsas had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 65th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 66th minute, Cassius Byrne made a precise shot to the right of Kostas Kourmouzis. Xarilaou FC's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 3-1. USA's Sam Campbell was substituted for Cassius Byrne. If Thodoris Loubakis had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 70th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 72nd minute Edward Mcdonald shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Kostas Kourmouzis saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. 79 minutes into the match, Sam Campbell had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Kostas Kourmouzis. Xarilaou FC's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Sam Campbell was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 4-1. USA's Marco Baker was substituted for Edward Mcdonald. USA's Marco Day proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 89th minute of the match, managed to save USA from getting a goal against them. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Stratos Kabantais in the 93rd minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Marco Day prevented the ball from getting in the gole. 94 minutes into the game, Koby Fletcher was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. USA's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Xarilaou FC the free kick. In the 94th minute, one of USA:s players had the ball in front of the goal but got pushed and fell. The referee felt it was an obvious case and blew a penalty for USA. A collision led to USA getting a freekick after 96 minutes play. Zach Harrison hit a great ball. After 98 played minutes Xarilaou FC got a freekick which was hit by Stratos Kabantais. It was no surprise that this one had ended in a win for the home team. USA had played much better football throughout.