Challenge

National stadium
Spectators: 45 (Terracing: 35, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Albert Mironov started the match with the kick off. Niculae Ailenei made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Adam Babarada in the 4th minute of play. In the 8th minute Ciprian Toma shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Stelian Jurcuț saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. After 14 played minutes Fălciu got a freekick which was hit by Dacian Mâinea. Adam Babarada recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 16th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Fălciu's Stelian Jurcuț played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Ciprian Toma in the 19th minute of play. With a little luck, Fălciu's Stelian Jurcuț got control of the ball when Albert Mironov tried to sneak it across the goal line. When Fălciu's Sabin Comșa in the 23rd minute got a chance for a shot 23rd didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Romania's goalie prevented a goal. Fălciu's Stelian Jurcuț played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Ciprian Toma in the 24th minute of play. With his leg Stelian Jurcuț managed to avoid a goal in the 26thth minute, when Romania's Albert Mironov fired away a shot with a lot of spin towards his right hand side. Niculae Ailenei made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Sabin Comșa in the 33rd minute of play. In the 34th minute Sebastian Seţeanu shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Niculae Ailenei saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Adam Babarada in the 36th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Niculae Ailenei saved Romania from getting behind. After 37 minutes Romania's defender was forced to head the ball over the line for a corner. It was Sebastian Seţeanu who took care of the corner kick. After taking down the ball on Fălciu's corner Sebastian Seţeanu fired away a hard shot, but the defenders efficiently covered the most dangerous angles and Niculae Ailenei quite easily take care of the ball. Fălciu's Stelian Jurcuț played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Albert Mironov in the 39th minute of play. A hard shot 41 in the game by Ciprian Toma from a close distance when the talented Stelian Jurcuț managed to make a qualified save. Fălciu's players were relieved. After 44 minutes Fălciu's defender was forced to head the ball over the line for a corner. It was Grigore Dărăscu who took care of the corner kick. After taking down the ball on Romania's corner Grigore Dărăscu fired away a hard shot, but the defenders efficiently covered the most dangerous angles and Stelian Jurcuț quite easily take care of the ball. In the 47th minute Ciprian Toma shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Stelian Jurcuț saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. The fans had the chance to grab some refreshments as the whistle went for half-time. The score stood at 0-0 after a close first half.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Codruț Ababei stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. Arthur Clarke recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 55th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. In the 57th minute Ciprian Toma shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Stelian Jurcuț saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Niculae Ailenei made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Codruț Ababei in the 59th minute of play. 62 minutes into the match, Romania's goalkeeper Niculae Ailenei had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Codruț Ababei. A collision led to Romania getting a freekick after 67 minutes play. Marin Bosânceanu hit a great ball. Romania made a substitution. Corneliu Cozac replaced Iosif Cupșa. If Marian Pascaru had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 69th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. 71 minutes into the match, Romania's Albert Mironov sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Stelian Jurcuț narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Stelian Jurcuț showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Ciprian Toma, who was totally free with the ball in the 74th minute. 76 minutes into the match, Fălciu's goal looked a bit too open when Corneliu Cozac came free, but Stelian Jurcuț reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. The audience was convinced that Arthur Clarke's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Stelian Jurcuț was relentless in the 77th minute of the game. 79 minutes had been played when some careless play by Fălciu's defense caused the ball to cross the line for a corner. Grigore Dărăscu was slow to take the kick. During this time Romania's players had a chance to rest. Romania's Grigore Dărăscu was first on the ball when the corner was shot and he dangerously headed the ball towards goal, but Stelian Jurcuț in the goal jumped up to prevent it from getting in. Stelian Jurcuț made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Ciprian Toma in the 80th minute of play. 82 minutes into the match, Fălciu's goal looked a bit too open when Albert Mironov came free, but Stelian Jurcuț reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After 82 minutes of play, Romania's Albert Mironov made it 2-0 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Stelian Jurcuț was left in no man's land by his defense there! In the 85th minute, Fălciu's Codruț Ababei ran free of his marker and smoothly shot the ball into the goal behind Niculae Ailenei. Niculae Ailenei yelled at his defense, as they had left him out to dry. 2-1. Ciprian Toma struck a weak shot in the 89th minute. Stelian Jurcuț didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Romania. In the 90th minute Ciprian Toma shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Stelian Jurcuț saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. 92 minutes into the match, Albert Mironov had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Stelian Jurcuț. Fălciu's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Albert Mironov was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 3-1. Arthur Clarke received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 95th minute. Stelian Jurcuț tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Sabin Comșa received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 96th minute. Niculae Ailenei tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere.