Challenge

RFK Stadium
Spectators: 45 (Terracing: 35, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) The mood of the audience was pleasant when Ernest Manea made the kick off which started today's match. After 20 minutes of play, FC Politehnica Timisoara's Olimpiu Rizea made it 1-1 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Marco Day was left in no man's land by his defense there! USA's Marco Day played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Olimpiu Rizea in the 27th minute of play. Marco Day took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Olimpiu Rizea, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. After some fancy dribbling in the 29th minute, Olimpiu Rizea managed to get in a good position for a shot. FC Politehnica Timisoara's supporters rose to their feet, but Olimpiu Rizea was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Marco Day breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Marco Day showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Vali Maghiar in the 36th minute of the match. Ernest Manea recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 39th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. 41 minutes into the match, Cassius Byrne dribbled the ball past the defender and swiftly kicked the ball to the left of Isac Hojbota, 2-1. In the 43rd minute, Fan Wen Nan hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Monty Rogers struck a weak shot in the 45th minute. Isac Hojbota didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for USA. 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 2-1.

The wind increased when Cassius Byrne made the kick off in the second half. In the 53rd minute Monty Rogers shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Isac Hojbota saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 54th minute of the match USA got a corner. FC Politehnica Timisoara'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. A well-hit corner resulted in Jacob May heading the ball towards the goal, but to his dismay he misdirected it and missed the goal completely. Isac Hojbota took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Monty Rogers, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. An unexpectedly hard shot by Monty Rogers in the 65th minute of play forced FC Politehnica Timisoara's goalkeeper Isac Hojbota to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. When USA's Monty Rogers in the 65th minute got a chance for a shot 65th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye FC Politehnica Timisoara's goalie prevented a goal. Isac Hojbota 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 66th minute. 69 minutes into the game, Ernest Manea lined in a short shot 2-2 behind a frustrated Marco Day. USA made a substitution. Sam Campbell replaced Cassius Byrne. FC Politehnica Timisoara made a substitution. Alin Moșanu replaced Vintilă Bălășescu. After taking down the ball on FC Politehnica Timisoara's corner Yosua Helguera fired away a hard shot, but the defenders efficiently covered the most dangerous angles and Marco Day quite easily take care of the ball. Vali Maghiar could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 86th minute of the match, but Marco Day made a huge save. An unexpectedly hard shot by Sam Campbell in the 88th minute of play forced FC Politehnica Timisoara's goalkeeper Isac Hojbota to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 88th minute, Sam Campbell ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Isac Hojbota was frozen by the shot and now it was 3-2. FC Politehnica Timisoara's Isac Hojbota played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Marco Baker in the 94th minute of play. USA were awarded a corner in the 96th minute after FC Politehnica Timisoara's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Jenson Smith took the corner. A nice corner shot did that Jenson Smith got away a dangerous shot. Despite this Isac Hojbota quite easily got ahold of the ball to make the save. There was no doubt that USA were the better team. USA's players enjoyed the ovations of the crowd after the victory.