Challenge

Estádio BARRACA
Spectators: 43 (Terracing: 33, Seating: 10, 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. The supporters of POPULAR F.C booed when Ecuador was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 2 match minutes in a wonderful position. Agustín Saelices didn't get a good kick on the ball. Agustín Saelices sent away a hard shot on goal in the 7th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Julio Vera made an important save on a dangerous shot by Gilson Cordeiro in the 12th minute. After 16 minutes, Eusebiu Gârbovan mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the POPULAR F.C and the Ecuador players grew even worse after the yellow card. In the 15th minute, one of POPULAR F.C:s players had the ball in front of the goal but got pushed and fell. The referee felt it was an obvious case and blew a penalty for POPULAR F.C. Felix Montenegro sent away a hard shot on goal in the 19th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. In the 25th minute Clarke Brooks 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. Julio Vera made an important save on a dangerous shot by Victorio Pabla in the 26th minute. After 29 played minutes Ecuador got a freekick which was hit by Agustín Saelices. A hard shot 30 in the game by Victorio Pabla from a close distance when the talented Julio Vera managed to make a qualified save. Ecuador's players were relieved. An unexpectedly hard shot by Clarke Brooks in the 31st minute of play forced Ecuador's goalkeeper Julio Vera to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 37th minute, Maicon de Godoi sent off a long shot on goal, but the shot was nowhere near the goal and Ecuador's Julio Vera didn't even have to move. Pancracio Paniagua took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Daniel Zorita, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. 40 minutes into the match, Ecuador's goalkeeper Julio Vera had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Clarke Brooks. 42 minutes into the match, Clarke Brooks had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Julio Vera. Ecuador's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Clarke Brooks was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 1-1. After fighting hard for a draw in the first half, the players were able to take a much needed rest.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Clarke Brooks to make the kick off. 51 minutes into the match, POPULAR F.C's Clarke Brooks sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Julio Vera narrowly saved just below the crossbar. A nice corner shot did that Váldson Tande got away a dangerous shot. Despite this Julio Vera quite easily got ahold of the ball to make the save. Ecuador's Julio Vera played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Victorio Pabla in the 54th minute of play. After some fancy dribbling in the 58th minute, Victorio Pabla managed to get in a good position for a shot. POPULAR F.C's supporters rose to their feet, but Victorio Pabla was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Julio Vera breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Pancracio Paniagua made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Cristian Sancho in the 64th minute of play. Ecuador's attacker deliberately struck the ball against an opponent to win a corner for his team. The corner was taken by Daniel Zorita in the 66th minute. It was a well-played corner which Felix Montes managed to volley towards the net. Unfortunately, he didn't get a great hit on the ball and it went out into the grandstand. When POPULAR F.C's Clarke Brooks in the 70th minute got a chance for a shot 70th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Ecuador's goalie prevented a goal. Julio Vera showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Mei Xun Jun in the 72nd minute of the match. The crowd rose to their feet as Cristian Sancho kicked a wonderful shot that went in to the left of a diving Pancracio Paniagua. That made the score 1-2 in the 74 minute of play. In the 77th minute, Mei Xun Jun hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Thanks to some nice moves Felix Montenegro could shoot a difficult shot in the 79th minute, which Pancracio Paniagua however easily saved by the left post. Julio Vera showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Victorio Pabla in the 83rd minute of the match. Clarke Brooks sent away a hard shot on goal in the 86th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After a defensive mix-up in POPULAR F.C's zone, Daniel Zorita stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Pancracio Paniagua came out of the goal and Daniel Zorita tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. In the 90th minute, Victorio Pabla left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The POPULAR F.C fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 2-2. 93 minutes into the match, POPULAR F.C's goalkeeper Pancracio Paniagua had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Cristian Sancho. Eusebiu Gârbovan hit a great freekick 94 minutes into the match. When the referee blew the final whistle, you could see the dissatisfaction in the Ecuador players' eyes. They were disappointed they hadn't taken more from the game.