Challenge

Lucas E. Abalos
Spectators: 40 (Terracing: 31, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) The mood of the audience was pleasant when Daniel Zorita made the kick off which started today's match. Hugo Orlando Gatti showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Daniel Zorita, who was totally free with the ball in the 7th minute. Hugo Orlando Gatti took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Daniel Zorita, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. If Agustín Saelices had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 19th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 22nd minute, Cristian Sancho ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Hugo Orlando Gatti was frozen by the shot and now it was 0-1. In the 24th minute, Genaro Elivareo hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. In the 29th minute Luis Andino shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Hugo Orlando Gatti saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. An unexpectedly hard shot by Daniel Zorita in the 33rd minute of play forced Abuba Akotonon FC's goalkeeper Hugo Orlando Gatti to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Ecuador were awarded a corner in the 34th minute after Abuba Akotonon FC's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Daniel Zorita took the corner. Ecuador's Felix Montes was first on the ball when the corner was shot and he dangerously headed the ball towards goal, but Hugo Orlando Gatti in the goal jumped up to prevent it from getting in. With a little luck, Ecuador's Julio Vera got control of the ball when Cecilio Tristan tried to sneak it across the goal line. In the 40th match minute, Ecuador was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Agustín Saelices to maneuver through the defense. After 40 played minutes, Abuba Akotonon FC's Genaro Elivareo shot from a long distance, and at first it looked like the ball was going into the goal, but the goalkeeper Julio Vera 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 Abuba Akotonon FC reached it. The crowd rose to their feet as Abuba Akotonon FC's Cecilio Tristan slotted home a wonderful shot that went in to the left of Julio Vera. That made the score 1-1 after 41 minutes of play. Cecilio Tristan sent away a hard shot on goal in the 44th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After the first half the score was level. The break gave the players a chance to catch their breath, whilst the managers went over the tactics with them again.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Cecilio Tristan stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. 51 minutes into the game, J.J Okocha was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Abuba Akotonon FC's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Ecuador the free kick. A collision led to Abuba Akotonon FC getting a freekick after 51 minutes play. J.J Okocha hit a great ball. After 52 played minutes, Ecuador's Daniel Zorita shot from a long distance, and at first it looked like the ball was going into the goal, but the goalkeeper Hugo Orlando Gatti 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 Ecuador reached it. Felix Montenegro's shot when he came free in front of the goal in the 54thth minute, Hugo Orlando Gatti skillfully showed off with a save to what seemed to be an obvious goal. In the 57th minute of the match Ecuador got a corner. Abuba Akotonon FC's goalie ran out to the linesman to protest the call, but the linesman resolutely pointed his flag at the cornerflag. Daniel Zorita ran over to the corner to take the kick. When the match had gone on for 61 minutes, Cecilio Tristan put it in 2-1 from a short distance just to the right of Julio Vera. If Daniel Zorita had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 64th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 66th minute Cristian Sancho shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Hugo Orlando Gatti saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. After 70 played minutes Ecuador got a freekick which was hit by Luis Andino. 71 minutes into the match, Cecilio Tristan notched a goal, 3-1, to the right of Ecuador's Julio Vera. Julio Vera was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. Felix Montenegro received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 75th minute. Hugo Orlando Gatti tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. In the 76th minute, Rene Sanson hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. 78 minutes into the match, Ecuador's goal looked a bit too open when Vânderson Barbosa came free, but Julio Vera reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Abuba Akotonon FC's Hugo Orlando Gatti proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 81st minute of the match, managed to save Abuba Akotonon FC from getting a goal against them. Felix Montenegro fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 82nd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Hugo Orlando Gatti having to interfere. Abuba Akotonon FC made a substitution. Ernesto Oxarra replaced Ramiro Rey. Hugo Orlando Gatti made a fantastic save in the 90th minute, when Cristian Sancho sent off a good shot on target. Daniel Zorita who was well placed in front of the goal fired away a dangerous shot that in the 91stth minute tested the skills of Hugo Orlando Gatti when he managed to save the team from getting behind. Julio Vera showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Cecilio Tristan in the 94th minute of the match. Daniel Zorita struck a weak shot in the 96th minute. Hugo Orlando Gatti didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Ecuador. The home crowd let out a huge roar when the referee blew for the end of the game. Abuba Akotonon FC were victorious despite being under pressure from Ecuador for much of the match.