Challenge

PARS STADIUM
Spectators: 42 (Terracing: 32, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) PERSPOLIS's Cipriano Ganix 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. After a defensive mix-up in Ecuador's zone, Facundo Feria stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Julio Vera came out of the goal and Facundo Feria tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. PERSPOLIS's Gianluigi Donnarumma played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Daniel Zorita in the 7th minute of play. Gianluigi Donnarumma made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Cristian Sancho in the 9th minute of play. The audience thought a goal was coming when Facundo Feria got free with Julio Vera in the 10th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Gianluigi Donnarumma showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Daniel Zorita in the 15th minute of the match. 17 minutes into the game, Enrico Duarte was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. PERSPOLIS's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Ecuador the free kick. The supporters of Ecuador booed when PERSPOLIS was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 17 match minutes in a wonderful position. Enrico Duarte didn't get a good kick on the ball. 23 minutes into the match, Ecuador's goal looked a bit too open when Bela Herrero came free, but Julio Vera reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Ecuador's Agustín Saelices got a good chance for a goal in the 26th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Facundo Ferias short, quick shot in the 28thth minute got Julio Vera to make great effort and bar the ball away from getting in. Agustín Saelices received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 30th minute. Gianluigi Donnarumma tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Gianluigi Donnarumma showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Felix Montenegro, who was totally free with the ball in the 34th minute. Agustín Saelices struck a weak shot in the 35th minute. Gianluigi Donnarumma didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Ecuador. In the 38th minute of the match PERSPOLIS got a corner. Ecuador's goalie ran out to the linesman to protest the call, but the linesman resolutely pointed his flag at the cornerflag. Honorio Carceles ran over to the corner to take the kick. A nice corner shot did that Honorio Carceles got away a dangerous shot. Despite this Julio Vera quite easily got ahold of the ball to make the save. Constantino Salgado recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 39th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Gianluigi Donnarumma showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Cristian Sancho in the 44th minute of the match. Gianluigi Donnarumma took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Cristian Sancho, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. 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 wind increased when Daniel Zorita made the kick off in the second half. A collision led to Ecuador getting a freekick after 52 minutes play. Primitivo Andino hit a great ball. In the 53rd minute of the match Honorio Carceles sent off a long shot with destination to the right of the goalkeeper, but Julio Vera skillfully saved the ball. 54 minutes into the match, PERSPOLIS's goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Daniel Zorita. The supporters of Ecuador booed when PERSPOLIS was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 69 match minutes in a wonderful position. Facundo Feria didn't get a good kick on the ball. In the 70th minute, Facundo Feria hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Ecuador's Daniel Zorita was standing unmarked in front of the goal when he, in the 72nd play minute, got the ball and easily drilled it into the goal. Julio Vera made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Ingmar Bergman in the 77th minute of play. When Ingmar Bergman came up free with the goalie in the 79th minute, the PERSPOLIS 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 Ingmar Bergman couldn't finish the play. The crowd rose to their feet as Daniel Zorita kicked a wonderful shot that went in to the left of a diving Gianluigi Donnarumma. That made the score 1-2 in the 81 minute of play. PERSPOLIS made a substitution. Pedro León replaced Bela Herrero. In the 90th minute of the match, Daniel Zorita got a very nice opportunity to score, but Gianluigi Donnarumma was well-placed and pushed the ball away from the goal at the left post. Gianluigi Donnarumma made an important save on a dangerous shot by Cristian Sancho in the 91st minute. When the final whistle sounded Ecuador left the ground with the victory after a much better performance than PERSPOLIS.