Challenge

NATIONAL ARENA
Spectators: 40 (Terracing: 31, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when Tomas Illescas kicked off to start the match. Gervásio Vilhena recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 3rd minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Gigel Seremet hit a great freekick 14 minutes into the match. In the 16th minute Nelson Mendoza shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Jonathan Ferrant saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Jonathan Ferrant showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Nelson Mendoza in the 20th minute of the match. Venezuela's Jonathan Ferrant played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Nelson Mendoza in the 26th minute of play. Gigel Seremet received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 27th minute. Jonathan Ferrant tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Gervásio Vilhena struck a weak shot in the 30th minute. Jonathan Ferrant didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for UFC STEAUA. With a little luck, Venezuela's Jonathan Ferrant got control of the ball when Nelson Mendoza tried to sneak it across the goal line. In the 41st minute, Nelson Mendoza left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The UFC STEAUA fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 4-0. 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 4-0.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Nelson Mendoza made a kick off. An unexpectedly hard shot by Mugur Nisipeanu in the 51st minute of play forced Venezuela's goalkeeper Jonathan Ferrant to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. 52 minutes into the game, Nelson Mendoza cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 5-0. Jonathan Ferrant was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. 56 minutes into the match, Nelson Mendoza notched a goal, 6-0, to the right of Venezuela's Jonathan Ferrant. Jonathan Ferrant was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. After a rather tough play, Venezuela's Camilo Gaos got a free kick in the 60th minute. Venezuela's Jonathan Ferrant played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Mugur Nisipeanu in the 61st minute of play. UFC STEAUA were awarded a corner in the 63th minute after Venezuela's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Mugur Basarabescu took the corner. After taking down the ball on UFC STEAUA's corner Mugur Basarabescu fired away a hard shot, but the defenders efficiently covered the most dangerous angles and Jonathan Ferrant quite easily take care of the ball. Tomas Illescas might have been able to make a better finish in the 64th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over João Massa. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Tomas Illescas ran back to his position shaking his head. The supporters of UFC STEAUA booed when Venezuela was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 72 match minutes in a wonderful position. Jose Correa didn't get a good kick on the ball. After 72 played minutes, UFC STEAUA's Mugur Basarabescu shot from a long distance, and at first it looked like the ball was going into the goal, but the goalkeeper Jonathan Ferrant came through and got his fingers on the ball before it flew over the goal line. He then quickly gripped the ball tighter before the forwards in UFC STEAUA reached it. After 73 minutes, Jose Correa mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Venezuela and the UFC STEAUA players grew even worse after the yellow card. In the 73rd minute, Jose Correa hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. After having played for 74 minutes, Nelson Mendoza managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. UFC STEAUA's supporters crossed their fingers, but Nelson Mendoza was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. 80 minutes into the match, Venezuela's Tomas Illescas sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that João Massa narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Tomas Illescas's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but João Massa read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 81st minute of play. Jonathan Ferrant made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Mugur Basarabescu in the 85th minute of play.