Challenge

Kurt Tank
Spectators: 42 (Terracing: 32, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Marin Jumancă started the match with the kick off. Apolo Santxol 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 6th minute. When Marin Jumancă came up free with the goalie in the 8th minute, the Huckebein fans jumped to their feet. But the shot missed the goal by a fraction of an inch, and the fans sat back down disappointed that Marin Jumancă couldn't finish the play. 11 minutes into the game, Cassius Byrne cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 0-1. Apolo Santxol was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. Marin Jumancă could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 19th minute of the match, but Marco Day made a huge save. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Cassius Byrne in the 22nd minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Apolo Santxol prevented the ball from getting in the gole. Apolo Santxol made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Monty Rogers in the 25th minute of play. In the 26th minute USA were awarded a corner. Cassius Byrne went to the cornerflag to take it. USA's Jacob May was first on the ball when the corner was shot and he dangerously headed the ball towards goal, but Apolo Santxol in the goal jumped up to prevent it from getting in. Marin Jumancă could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 29th minute of the match, but Marco Day made a huge save. An unexpectedly hard shot by Mehmet Ferit Ayçetin in the 31st minute of play forced USA's goalkeeper Marco Day to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Cassius Byrne struck a weak shot in the 32nd minute. Apolo Santxol didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for USA. Apolo Santxol showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Edward Mcdonald in the 35th minute of the match. Cassius Byrne struck a weak shot in the 36th minute. Apolo Santxol didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for USA. USA's Marco Day proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 37th minute of the match, managed to save USA from getting a goal against them. After having played for 38 minutes, Cassius Byrne managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. USA's supporters crossed their fingers, but Cassius Byrne was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. If Cassius Byrne had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 42nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 43rd match minute, Huckebein was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Wilfredo Ugutz to maneuver through the defense. Even after changing tactics the home team jogged off the field with a 0-1 deficit. They would have to work harder if they wanted to turn things around in the second half.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Cassius Byrne to strike the kick off in the second half. In the 52nd minute, Monty Rogers 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. Wilfredo Ugutz hit a great freekick 54 minutes into the match. Apolo Santxol stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Cassius Byrne's shot from short distance in the 56th minute. In the 63rd minute, Marin Jumancă got an opportunity to score, but he didn't get a solid hit on the ball and ended up kicking it wide of the goal. Huckebein made a substitution. Wolfgang Dalkvist replaced Marin Jumancă. In the 66th minute of the match, Cassius Byrne tried to roll the ball into the goal by the right post, but Apolo Santxol saw his intentions and got control of the ball before it passed the line. USA made a substitution. Sam Campbell replaced Cassius Byrne. The corner led USA's Jenson Smith to fire away a dangerous shot which Apolo Santxol despite some difficulties managed to get hold on the ball. An unexpectedly hard shot by Wolfgang Dalkvist in the 73rd minute of play forced USA's goalkeeper Marco Day to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Sam Campbell who was well placed in front of the goal fired away a dangerous shot that in the 74thth minute tested the skills of Apolo Santxol when he managed to save the team from getting behind. Apolo Santxol made a fantastic save in the 77th minute, when Sam Campbell sent off a good shot on target. If Monty Rogers had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 79th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. USA's Marco Baker was substituted for Edward Mcdonald. Huckebein's Apolo Santxol played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Khalid Parry in the 86th minute of play. Apolo Santxol stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Sam Campbell's shot from short distance in the 87th minute. Apolo Santxol took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Sam Campbell, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. 91 minutes into the match, Huckebein's goalkeeper Apolo Santxol had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Sam Campbell. 93 minutes had been played when some careless play by Huckebein's defense caused the ball to cross the line for a corner. Jenson Smith was slow to take the kick. During this time USA's players had a chance to rest. USA played a much better game than Huckebein and deserved their victory. The Huckebein players were clearly disappointed as they left the ground.