Challenge

Queen Arena
Spectators: 42 (Terracing: 32, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) The mood of the audience was pleasant when Daniel Zorita made the kick off which started today's match. Felix Montenegro sent away a hard shot on goal in the 3rd minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. After 5 minutes Ecuador's defender was forced to head the ball over the line for a corner. It was Julio Iglesias who took care of the corner kick. The corner led to Emerald's Jaime Carioca getting away a dangerous shot that went just outside the goal. In the 7th minute Daniel Zorita shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Nichifor Nicolae saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Luis Andino blasted a shot towards the goal in the 10th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Nichifor Nicolae having to make a save. 12 minutes into the match, Emerald's goal looked a bit too open when Daniel Zorita came free, but Nichifor Nicolae reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Victor Piţurcă sent away a hard shot on goal in the 15th minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. Julio Vera took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Victor Piţurcă, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Nichifor Nicolae 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 16th minute. Ecuador were awarded a corner in the 17th minute after Emerald's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Daniel Zorita took the corner. If Victor Piţurcă had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 19th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. With a little luck, Ecuador's Julio Vera got control of the ball when Victor Piţurcă tried to sneak it across the goal line. After 20 minutes, Jaime Carioca mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Emerald and the Ecuador players grew even worse after the yellow card. In the 20th match minute, Emerald was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Jaime Carioca to maneuver through the defense. 22 minutes into the match, Emerald's goal looked a bit too open when Cristian Sancho came free, but Nichifor Nicolae reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. With a little luck, Ecuador's Julio Vera got control of the ball when Victor Piţurcă tried to sneak it across the goal line. The audience thought a goal was coming when Victor Piţurcă got free with Julio Vera in the 28th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Victor Piţurcă's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Julio Vera read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 31st minute of play. A collision led to Emerald getting a freekick after 32 minutes play. Hurşit Cemşit hit a great ball. In the 33rd minute Daniel Zorita shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Nichifor Nicolae saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Nichifor Nicolae made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Daniel Zorita in the 38th minute of play. In the 39th minute, Daniel Zorita got an opportunity to score, but he didn't get a solid hit on the ball and ended up kicking it wide of the goal. Ecuador's Julio Vera played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Victor Piţurcă in the 41st minute of play. Through an outstanding action, after 43 minutes, Julio Vera successfully got his hands on the ball before it slid into the goal at the right post. In the 46th match minute, Emerald was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Hurşit Cemşit to maneuver through the defense. After the first half Ecuador were leading 0-1. They had played with great self confidence throughout the first half and fully deserved their lead.

Julio Vera took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Matei Félix Júnior, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. After some fancy dribbling in the 67th minute, Daniel Zorita managed to get in a good position for a shot. Ecuador's supporters rose to their feet, but Daniel Zorita was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Nichifor Nicolae breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Ecuador's Daniel Zorita got a good chance for a goal in the 69th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. 71 minutes into the game, Ecuador's Cristian Sancho nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Nichifor Nicolae made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 0-2. After a rather tough play, Emerald's Hurşit Cemşit got a free kick in the 73rd minute. Felix Montenegro could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 78th minute of the match, but Nichifor Nicolae made a huge save. In the 80th minute, Victor Piţurcă got an opportunity to score, but he didn't get a solid hit on the ball and ended up kicking it wide of the goal. A collision led to Ecuador getting a freekick after 85 minutes play. Camilo Gisbert hit a great ball. Emerald's Nichifor Nicolae proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 88th minute of the match, managed to save Emerald from getting a goal against them. In the 89th minute, Hurşit Cemşit hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Ecuador played a much better game than Emerald and deserved their victory. The Emerald players were clearly disappointed as they left the ground.