Challenge

Gasba Arena
Spectators: 43 (Terracing: 33, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Pastor Ihazintu took the kick off in the first half of the match. After 2 played minutes Urbs LC got a freekick which was hit by Pastor Ihazintu. Bruno Di Iulio hit a great freekick 4 minutes into the match. Eugenio Santoro showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Cristian Sancho in the 5th minute of the match. A nice corner shot did that Daniel Zorita got away a dangerous shot. Despite this Eugenio Santoro quite easily got ahold of the ball to make the save. Daniel Zorita hit a great freekick 10 minutes into the match. 15 minutes into the game, Cristian Sancho cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 0-1. Eugenio Santoro was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. Cristian Sancho sent away a hard shot on goal in the 18th minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. In the 21st minute Cristian Sancho shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Eugenio Santoro saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. A hard shot 23 in the game by Ennio Di Marzio from a close distance when the talented Julio Vera managed to make a qualified save. Ecuador's players were relieved. Ennio Di Marzio who was well placed in front of the goal fired away a dangerous shot that in the 23rdth minute tested the skills of Julio Vera when he managed to save the team from getting behind. Ecuador's Julio Vera played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Pastor Ihazintu in the 27th minute of play. The Urbs LC fans' excitement grew in the 30th match minute when Urbs LC's Pastor Ihazintu looked to have a clear shot with the ball near the goal. The shot wasn't hard, but the ball still rolled over the goal line to make it 1-1 before the goalkeeper had a chance to intervene. A collision led to Ecuador getting a freekick after 36 minutes play. Juan Sebastián Puig hit a great ball. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Daniel Zorita in the 41st managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Eugenio Santoro saved Urbs LC from getting behind. Julio Vera took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Pastor Ihazintu, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. The audience was convinced that Cristian Sancho's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Eugenio Santoro was relentless in the 45th minute of the game. The fans had the chance to grab some refreshments as the whistle went for half-time. The score stood at 1-1 after a close first half.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Daniel Zorita to make the kick off. Julio Vera showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Gilberto Hats, who was totally free with the ball in the 53rd minute. If Gilberto Hats had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 55th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. If Cristian Sancho had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 60th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Urbs LC made a substitution. Gervaso Abenda replaced Gilberto Hats. In the 63rd minute, Carter Musacchio hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. After 68 minutes Ecuador's defender was forced to head the ball over the line for a corner. It was Carter Musacchio who took care of the corner kick. Pastor Ihazintu took the ball and in the 69 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Julio Vera. Julio Vera dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 2-1. Julio Vera made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Pastor Ihazintu in the 77th minute of play. Ecuador's Julio Vera played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Gervaso Abenda in the 78th minute of play. 79 minutes into the match, Urbs LC's goal looked a bit too open when Cristian Sancho came free, but Eugenio Santoro reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Urbs LC were awarded a corner in the 83th minute after Ecuador's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Carter Musacchio took the corner. The corner ended in Carter Musacchio almost managing to get the ball behind the net, but Ecuador's Julio Vera did a great save. Daniel Zorita's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Eugenio Santoro read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 85th minute of play. 92 minutes into the game, Urbs LC's Pastor Ihazintu nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Julio Vera made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 3-1. The referee blew his whistle, and the match came to a close. The players exchanged shirts and headed down the tunnel. The Urbs LC fans cheered their team off the field, for while Ecuador had put up a good fight, they were unable to come out of the game with any points to show for their effort.