Challenge

Santiago Bernabeu
Spectators: 40 (Terracing: 31, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Aquiles Urtsin took the kick off in the first half of the match. With an all-out effort, Merengue FC's Julio Vera threw himself towards the right post 4 minutes into the match and grabbed hold of the ball from Aquiles Urtsin, which otherwise would have been placed in the net. 6 minutes into the game, Aquiles Urtsin cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 1-0. Julio Vera was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. Bayan Gugovski showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Luis Andino in the 8th minute of the match. After some careless play in the Merengue FC defense, Daniel Zorita kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Bayan Gugovski. The Merengue FC fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Bayan Gugovski should have stopped the shot. In the 24th minute, Daniel Zorita made a precise shot to the right of Bayan Gugovski. Merengue FC's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 1-2. 27 minutes into the game, Cristian Sancho cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 1-3. Bayan Gugovski was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. In the 35thth minute of the game Cristian Sancho who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Merengue FC's Bayan Gugovski was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. When Ecuador's Daniel Zorita in the 38th minute got a chance for a shot 38th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Merengue FC's goalie prevented a goal. With a little luck, Ecuador's Julio Vera got control of the ball when Aquiles Urtsin tried to sneak it across the goal line. Ecuador's Julio Vera played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Ediberto Sampaio in the 45th minute of play. After 45 minutes of play, Merengue FC's Ediberto Sampaio made it 2-3 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! After the first half Ecuador were leading 2-3. They had played with great self confidence throughout the first half and fully deserved their lead.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Daniel Zorita to strike the kick off in the second half. Julio Vera made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Darwin Núñez in the 53rd minute of play. After 54 minutes Ecuador's defender was forced to head the ball over the line for a corner. It was Ediberto Sampaio who took care of the corner kick. Aquiles Urtsin was in a good position and managed to take a shot, but he missed just to the outside of the post. Darwin Núñez fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 61st minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Julio Vera having to interfere. Ecuador's Daniel Zorita got a good chance for a goal in the 68th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Daniel Zorita recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 71st minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. After 77 minutes Merengue FC's defender was forced to head the ball over the line for a corner. It was Daniel Zorita who took care of the corner kick. When Cristian Sancho came up free with the goalie in the 78th minute, the Ecuador 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 Cristian Sancho couldn't finish the play.