Challenge

Gasba Arena
Spectators: 43 (Terracing: 33, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) The mood of the audience was pleasant when Daniel Zorita made the kick off which started today's match. Julio Vera made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Pastor Ihazintu in the 5th minute of play. With 6 minutes on the clock, Juan Sebastián Puig commited a dangerous tackle. The referee had no choice but to show him the red card. 6 minutes into the game, one of Ecuador:s players got tackled near the goal, and the referee blew for a penalty. Julio Vera had in the 8thth minute some difficulties stopping Ennio Di Marzio's well aimed penalty as it nearly passed him on his left side, but he still managed to hold the ball. Ennio Di Marzio in the 11thth minute had a little luck and got a chance for a shot in front of the goal. Without hesitation aimed to the right of Julio Vera, who managed to lunge to the right direction and made a save. Eugenio Santoro took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Cristian Sancho, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Julio Vera showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Gilberto Hats in the 26th minute of the match. After 29 played minutes Ecuador got a freekick which was hit by Antonio Arias. 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 30th minute of play. 36 minutes into the match, Ecuador's goal looked a bit too open when Gilberto Hats came free, but Julio Vera reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After 39 minutes of play, Urbs LC's Arrigo Calcio made it 1-0 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Julio Vera was left in no man's land by his defense there! Pastor Ihazintu fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 42nd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Julio Vera having to interfere. All the noise was coming from the home fans when the whistle went for half-time. The home team had fought hardest to put themselves in a deserved lead.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Pastor Ihazintu to strike the kick off in the second half. After having played for 55 minutes, Cristian Sancho managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Ecuador's supporters crossed their fingers, but Cristian Sancho was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. After a rather tough play, Urbs LC's Bruno Di Iulio got a free kick in the 57th minute. Ecuador's Daniel Zorita shoveled away a really nice long shot in the 57th minute of play. The shot was stopped by Eugenio Santoro but with some difficulty. 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 59th minute. In the 60th 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. Cristian Sancho hit a great freekick 62 minutes into the match. Urbs LC made a substitution. Gervaso Abenda replaced Gilberto Hats. Julio Vera made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Pastor Ihazintu in the 64th minute of play. 72 minutes into the match, Ecuador's goal looked a bit too open when Pastor Ihazintu came free, but Julio Vera reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After having played for 74 minutes, Cristian Sancho managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Ecuador's supporters crossed their fingers, but Cristian Sancho was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Julio Vera showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Gervaso Abenda, who was totally free with the ball in the 75th minute. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Pastor Ihazintu in the 79th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Julio Vera prevented the ball from getting in the gole. Urbs LC made a substitution. Anselmo Papetti replaced Arrigo Calcio. The audience thought a goal was coming when Cristian Sancho got free with Eugenio Santoro in the 85th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. An unexpectedly hard shot by Pastor Ihazintu in the 87th minute of play forced Ecuador's goalkeeper Julio Vera to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 88th match minute, Urbs LC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Bruno Di Iulio to maneuver through the defense. When Pastor Ihazintu came up free with the goalie in the 90th minute, the Urbs LC fans jumped to their feet. But the shot missed the goal by a fraction of an inch, and the fans sat back down disappointed that Pastor Ihazintu couldn't finish the play. 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 91st minute of play. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Gervaso Abenda in the 94th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Julio Vera saved Ecuador from getting behind. The home crowd let out a huge roar when the referee blew for the end of the game. Urbs LC were victorious despite being under pressure from Ecuador for much of the match.