Official Cup

Stade An Ráth Mór
Spectators: 157 (Terracing: 118, Seating: 36, VIP seats: 3) New York Red Bulls's Nazım Taci started the match with a crisp pass. The crowd had been anticipating this game for weeks and the excitement in the stadium was easily visible. In the 3rd minute, Nazım Taci left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The New York Red Bulls fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 0-1. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Nazım Taci in the 10th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Sofyane Valognes saved Rathmore Lime Tree from getting behind. The supporters of Rathmore Lime Tree booed when New York Red Bulls was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 15 match minutes in a wonderful position. Basarab Panduru didn't get a good kick on the ball. The audience thought a goal was coming when Karim Cosme got free with Eduardo Pereyra in the 17th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. George Schiau scored 0-2 in the 24th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Sofyane Valognes, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. George Schiau received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 33rd minute. Sofyane Valognes tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Brian Boullet hit a great freekick 36 minutes into the match. Sofyane Valognes stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Nazım Taci's shot from short distance in the 37th minute. In the 40th minute of the match New York Red Bulls got a corner. Rathmore Lime Tree's goalie ran out to the linesman to protest the call, but the linesman resolutely pointed his flag at the cornerflag. Basarab Panduru ran over to the corner to take the kick. The corner went over the outstretched arms of Rathmore Lime Tree's goalie and right to George Schiau. He fired away a shot at goal, but the shot had too much spin, and it went just outside the goal. Rathmore Lime Tree's manager breathed a sigh of relief on the sidelines as his team had managed to escape an almost certain goal. In the 45th minute Nazım Taci shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Sofyane Valognes saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Even after changing tactics the home team jogged off the field with a 0-2 deficit. They would have to work harder if they wanted to turn things around in the second half.

Sofyane Valognes made an important save on a dangerous shot by Cristinel Alamaru in the 51st minute. Sofyane Valognes was a little too slow when Nazım Taci got a fine hit on the ball which went right into the goal in the 56th minute. The score was now 0-3. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Bilal Hédin during the 59th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. Bilal Hédin kicked well hit freekick during the 60th minute of the match. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Nazım Taci in the 61st minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Sofyane Valognes prevented the ball from getting in the gole. The audience thought a goal was coming when Nazım Taci got free with Sofyane Valognes in the 63rd minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Sofyane Valognes took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Nazım Taci, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. 70 minutes into the match, Rathmore Lime Tree's goal looked a bit too open when Nazım Taci came free, but Sofyane Valognes reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 72nd minute George Schiau shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Sofyane Valognes saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. After 73 minutes Rathmore Lime Tree's defender was forced to head the ball over the line for a corner. It was Basarab Panduru who took care of the corner kick. George Schiau recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 76th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. George Schiau sent away a hard shot on goal in the 81st minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After some careless play in the Rathmore Lime Tree defense, Nazım Taci kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Sofyane Valognes. The Rathmore Lime Tree fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Sofyane Valognes should have stopped the shot. Sofyane Valognes was a little too slow when George Schiau got a fine hit on the ball which went right into the goal in the 89th minute. The score was now 0-5. New York Red Bulls's George Schiau got a good chance for a goal in the 96th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. The Rathmore Lime Tree fans had already started to leave before the final whistle blew. New York Red Bulls were clearly better and deserved to take the win.