Challenge

La Bombonera
Spectators: 40 (Terracing: 31, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) Ecuador's Daniel Zorita 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 4th minute Diego Maradona shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Julio Vera saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. 6 minutes into the match, Sporting de Gijón's goal looked a bit too open when Cristian Sancho came free, but Óscar Cordoba reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Saturnino Curcio could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 7th minute of the match, but Julio Vera made a huge save. In the 10th minute Agustín Saelices shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Óscar Cordoba saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Julio Vera made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Diego Maradona in the 15th minute of play. If Felix Montenegro had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 18th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Daniel Zorita struck a weak shot in the 23rd minute. Óscar Cordoba didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Ecuador. Óscar Cordoba took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Daniel Zorita, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Óscar Cordoba took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Agustín Saelices, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Agustín Saelices took the ball and in the 29 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Óscar Cordoba. Óscar Cordoba dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 0-1. Óscar Cordoba took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Daniel Zorita, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Sporting de Gijón's Óscar Cordoba played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Daniel Zorita in the 34th minute of play. Daniel Zorita fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 37th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Óscar Cordoba having to interfere. 38 minutes into the match, Sporting de Gijón's goal looked a bit too open when Daniel Zorita came free, but Óscar Cordoba reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 39th minute, Daniel Zorita ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Óscar Cordoba was frozen by the shot and now it was 0-2. Alejandro Rufo kicked well hit freekick during the 44th minute of the match. Daniel Zorita sent away a hard shot on goal in the 45th minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. 45 minutes into the match, Sporting de Gijón's goal looked a bit too open when Daniel Zorita came free, but Óscar Cordoba reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Sporting de Gijón's Carlo Crema was substituted for Venancio Emesto. The crowd was extremely unhappy with the home team's performance in the first half. They were losing 0-2.

The supporters of Sporting de Gijón booed when Ecuador was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 53 match minutes in a wonderful position. Camilo Gisbert didn't get a good kick on the ball. 63 minutes into the match, Matias Bilintx notched a goal, 2-2, 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. If Matias Bilintx had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 66th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Óscar Cordoba made an important save on a dangerous shot by Daniel Zorita in the 67th minute. Sporting de Gijón's Carolo Ovando was substituted for Alejandro Rufo. After a rather tough play, Sporting de Gijón's Gabriel Diaz got a free kick in the 70th minute. An unexpectedly hard shot by Luis Andino in the 73rd minute of play forced Sporting de Gijón's goalkeeper Óscar Cordoba to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Ecuador were awarded a corner in the 74th minute after Sporting de Gijón's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Daniel Zorita took the corner. Cristian Sancho fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 78th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Óscar Cordoba having to interfere. Sporting de Gijón's Atilano Feo was substituted for Rune Fanström. After some careless play in the Sporting de Gijón defense, Cristian Sancho kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Óscar Cordoba. The Sporting de Gijón fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Óscar Cordoba should have stopped the shot. 84 minutes into the match, Sporting de Gijón's goalkeeper Óscar Cordoba had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Cristian Sancho. Daniel Zorita recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 89th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. In the 90th match minute, Sporting de Gijón was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Saturnino Curcio to maneuver through the defense. With a little luck, Sporting de Gijón's Óscar Cordoba got control of the ball when Daniel Zorita tried to sneak it across the goal line. Felix Montenegro fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 96th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Óscar Cordoba having to interfere. When the match was over Ecuador could go home with a victory in their luggage, having controlled the game far better than Sporting de Gijón throughout the match.