Challenge

Queen Arena
Spectators: 42 (Terracing: 32, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when Victor Piţurcă kicked off to start the match. Emerald's Nichifor Nicolae played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Daniel Zorita in the 9th minute of play. Ecuador were awarded a corner in the 10th minute after Emerald's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Daniel Zorita took the corner. An unexpectedly hard shot by Victor Piţurcă in the 11th minute of play forced Ecuador's goalkeeper Julio Vera to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Cristian Sancho recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 12th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Daniel Zorita sent away a hard shot on goal in the 14th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Daniel Zorita's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Nichifor Nicolae read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 17th minute of play. Felix Montenegro scored 0-1 in the 21st match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Nichifor Nicolae, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. 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 26th minute of play. Jaime Carioca struck a weak shot in the 27th minute. Julio Vera didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Emerald. The audience was convinced that Daniel Zorita's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Nichifor Nicolae was relentless in the 30th minute of the game. With a little luck, Ecuador's Julio Vera got control of the ball when Victor Piţurcă tried to sneak it across the goal line. Julio Vera made a fantastic save in the 31st minute, when Victor Piţurcă sent off a good shot on target. Luis Andino received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 33rd minute. Nichifor Nicolae tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. In the 39th minute, Xamo Zubiaur hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Cristian Sancho received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 43rd minute. Nichifor Nicolae tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Gabriel Vermeşan received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 47th minute. Julio Vera tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Emerald's Ioan Logofătu was substituted for Julio Iglesias.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Daniel Zorita to strike the kick off in the second half. After 53 played minutes Ecuador got a freekick which was hit by Luis Andino. Julio Vera stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Victor Piţurcă's shot from short distance in the 56th minute. After a defensive mix-up in Ecuador's zone, Jaime Carioca stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Julio Vera came out of the goal and Jaime Carioca tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by 朱风俊 during the 66th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. A collision led to Emerald getting a freekick after 66 minutes play. 朱风俊 hit a great ball. Cristian Sancho's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Nichifor Nicolae read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 67th minute of play. Ecuador were awarded a corner in the 68th minute after Emerald's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Daniel Zorita took the corner. Emerald's Nichifor Nicolae proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 73rd minute of the match, managed to save Emerald from getting a goal against them. 朱风俊 hit a great freekick 83 minutes into the match. A hard shot by Daniel Zorita from long distance, 84 minutes into the match, got Nichifor Nicolae's attention. Through a fast twist with his body, he could stop the ball from going in on his right side. Cristian Sancho 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. In the 89th minute Cristian Sancho 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. A nice corner shot did that Gabriel Vermeşan got away a dangerous shot. Despite this Julio Vera quite easily got ahold of the ball to make the save. 97 minutes into the game, Daniel Zorita lined in a short shot 0-2 behind a frustrated Nichifor Nicolae. Ecuador played a much better game than Emerald and deserved their victory. The Emerald players were clearly disappointed as they left the ground.