Challenge

RFK Stadium
Spectators: 49 (Terracing: 38, Seating: 11, VIP seats: 0) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when Nino Schurter kicked off to start the match. 5 minutes into the match, USA's goal looked a bit too open when Nino Schurter came free, but Marco Day reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 6th minute of the match Espen Steelers 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. Williams Imholz ran over to the corner to take the kick. The corner led Espen Steelers's Nino Schurter to fire away a dangerous shot which Marco Day despite some difficulties managed to get hold on the ball. When the match clock showed 6 minutes, the score became 0-1 when Nino Schurter sped through USA's defense and sent away a curving shot that went into the net to the right of Marco Day. 12 minutes into the match, USA's goal looked a bit too open when Alain Berset came free, but Marco Day reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 13th match minute, USA was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Raphael Moore to maneuver through the defense. Marco Day took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Alain Berset, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Marco Day made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Nino Schurter in the 18th minute of play. With a little luck, Espen Steelers's Gregor Kobel got control of the ball when Monty Rogers tried to sneak it across the goal line. 23 minutes into the match, Cassius Byrne had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Gregor Kobel. Espen Steelers's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Cassius Byrne was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 1-1. Marco Day made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Nino Schurter in the 26th minute of play. In the 27th minute of the match, Monty Rogers tried to roll the ball into the goal by the right post, but Gregor Kobel saw his intentions and got control of the ball before it passed the line. Monty Rogers struck a weak shot in the 30th minute. Gregor Kobel didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for USA. Gregor Kobel 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 32nd minute. Marco Day took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Alain Berset, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. The crowd rose to their feet as USA's Cassius Byrne slotted home a wonderful shot that went in to the left of Gregor Kobel. That made the score 2-1 after 39 minutes of play. With a little luck, Espen Steelers's Gregor Kobel got control of the ball when Edward Mcdonald tried to sneak it across the goal line. In the 42nd minute of the match USA got a corner. Espen Steelers'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. Jacob May kicked well hit freekick during the 43rd minute of the match. Gregor Kobel made an important save on a dangerous shot by Cassius Byrne in the 46th minute. Cassius Byrne kicked a quick shot right in front of the goal in the 47thth minute. Though ot was a great shot Espen Steelers's keeper Gregor Kobel was sill able to block leaving the score board unchanged. Af the end of the first half the score was 2-1. The first half had gone as expected for the home team.

The wind increased when Cassius Byrne made the kick off in the second half. Edward Mcdonald hit a great freekick 53 minutes into the match. If Alain Berset had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 54th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 55th minute, Lenny Rubin hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Marco Day took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Nino Schurter, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 59th minute, Nino Schurter left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The Espen Steelers fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 2-2. Gregor Kobel made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Cassius Byrne in the 63rd minute of play. Gregor Kobel took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Cassius Byrne, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. 67 minutes into the match, Espen Steelers's goal looked a bit too open when Edward Mcdonald came free, but Gregor Kobel reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Gregor Kobel showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Monty Rogers in the 68th minute of the match. 68 minutes in the game, Monty Rogers dribbled his way through the penalty area and after maneuvering past an opponent, drilled a quick shot at the goal. The ball looked like it was going in, but it was hit a bit too hard and flew over the goal. In the 70th minute Cassius Byrne shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Gregor Kobel saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 75th minute, Alain Berset reached a very good position and smashed the ball with a huge effort into the net, just to the left of Marco Day. The goal made the score 2-3. Espen Steelers made a substitution. Roman Beljean replaced Alberto Giacometti. USA made a substitution. Sam Campbell replaced Cassius Byrne. USA's Marco Baker was substituted for Edward Mcdonald. Espen Steelers's Rogelio Montez was substituted for Alain Berset. An unexpectedly hard shot by Marco Baker in the 80th minute of play forced Espen Steelers's goalkeeper Gregor Kobel to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 83rd minute, Sam Campbell 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. Gregor Kobel made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Khalid Parry in the 86th minute of play. In the 94th minute Espen Steelers were awarded a corner. Williams Imholz went to the cornerflag to take it. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Sam Campbell in the 97th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Gregor Kobel prevented the ball from getting in the gole. When the final whistle went the supporters of Espen Steelers were delighted that their team had defeated the much more dominant USA side.