Official Cup

Phoenix Field
Spectators: 159 (Terracing: 120, Seating: 36, VIP seats: 3) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Emanuel Mascovescu started the match with the kick off. Ionel Panaitoiu made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from William Rigg in the 8th minute of play. If Emanuel Mascovescu had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 10th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. 15 minutes into the game, William Rigg cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 0-1. Ionel Panaitoiu was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. After some careless play in the Phoenix Strikers defense, William Rigg kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Ionel Panaitoiu. The Phoenix Strikers fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Ionel Panaitoiu should have stopped the shot. If William Rigg had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 23rd minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. Ionel Panaitoiu showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from William Rigg, who was totally free with the ball in the 24th minute. In the 25th minute, Phoenix Strikers's Olimpiu Mustea ran free of his marker and smoothly shot the ball into the goal behind Emmanuel Canturri. Emmanuel Canturri yelled at his defense, as they had left him out to dry. 1-2. 30 minutes into the game, Emanuel Mascovescu lined in a short shot 2-2 behind a frustrated Emmanuel Canturri. The audience thought a goal was coming when Emanuel Mascovescu got free with Emmanuel Canturri in the 33rd minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Traian Moldovan could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 38th minute of the match, but Emmanuel Canturri made a huge save. When Olimpiu Mustea fell near the penalty area in the 42nd minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Phoenix Strikers's protests and gave Olimpiu Mustea a yellow card for diving instead. In the 47th minute, Emanuel Mascovescu ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Emmanuel Canturri was frozen by the shot and now it was 3-2. No-one was surprised that the home team were leading 3-2 at half-time.

Emmanuel Canturri made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Traian Moldovan in the 54th minute of play. In the 58th match minute, Phoenix Strikers was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Ioan Cozma to maneuver through the defense. William Rigg struck a weak shot in the 59th minute. Ionel Panaitoiu didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for The Valar. Ionel Panaitoiu showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from William Rigg in the 68th minute of the match. In the 68th minute, Ulmo Vala hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. The Valar made a substitution. Aulë Vala replaced Manwë Vala. In the 70th match minute, The Valar was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Ulmo Vala to maneuver through the defense. Emmanuel Canturri took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Ionuț Romeo, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. The Valar's Constantin Hrebenciuc suffered a sore thigh after 73 minutes and couldn't finish the game. Ionuț Romeo's late challenge caught a The Valar's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Ionuț Romeo helped the player get up and apologised. The Valar made a substitution. Eliodor Decuseară replaced Constantin Hrebenciuc. After 75 played minutes Phoenix Strikers got a freekick which was hit by Ionuț Romeo. 78 minutes into the match, Emanuel Mascovescu had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Emmanuel Canturri. The Valar's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Emanuel Mascovescu was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 4-2. The Valar's William Rigg got a good chance for a goal in the 83rd minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. The audience was convinced that William Rigg's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Ionel Panaitoiu was relentless in the 85th minute of the game. William Rigg might have been able to make a better finish in the 86th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Ionel Panaitoiu. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. William Rigg ran back to his position shaking his head. A collision led to The Valar getting a freekick after 88 minutes play. Aulë Vala hit a great ball. William Rigg's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Ionel Panaitoiu read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 90th minute of play. The audience was convinced that William Rigg's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Ionel Panaitoiu was relentless in the 94th minute of the game. The audience was convinced that William Rigg's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Ionel Panaitoiu was relentless in the 94th minute of the game. Phoenix Strikers's supporters were highly satisfied with the result. They cheered their team of the pitch, having watched them win a very even match.