Challenge

Estádio O Legendário
Spectators: 41 (Terracing: 32, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Alfredo Martins started the match with the kick off. Julio Vera didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Alfredo Martins went, in the 3rd minute, to the upper right corner, 1-0 was the resulting score. After some fancy dribbling in the 10th 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. Dida Taffarel breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. The nice shot from Alfredo Martins in the 13thth minute just in front of the goal should have ended in point on the board, but Julio Vera had a great feel for the game and superbly saved the ball from getting in by the left post. 20 minutes into the match, Marquês de Herval's goal looked a bit too open when Cristian Sancho came free, but Dida Taffarel reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Dida Taffarel took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Agustín Saelices, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Alfredo Martins'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 27th minute of play. After a defensive mix-up in Ecuador's zone, Alfredo Martins stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Julio Vera came out of the goal and Alfredo Martins tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Julio Vera made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Alfredo Martins in the 35th minute of play. Selami Rezan took a chance and fired a shot far from the goal in the 41st minute, but it turned out to be a dangerous situation for Julio Vera. Ecuador's goalkeeper really had to stretch himself to stop the ball from crossing the goal line. Alfredo Martins might have been able to make a better finish in the 43rd minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Julio Vera. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Alfredo Martins ran back to his position shaking his head. Julio Vera made a fantastic save in the 43rd minute, when Alfredo Martins sent off a good shot on target. Af the end of the first half the score was 2-0. The first half had gone as expected for the home team.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Daniel Zorita to strike the kick off in the second half. Julio Vera showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Alfredo Martins in the 51st minute of the match. In the 55th minute, Alfredo Martins made a precise shot to the right of Julio Vera. Ecuador's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 3-0. Julio Vera showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Alfredo Martins, who was totally free with the ball in the 58th minute. Ecuador's Julio Vera played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Alfredo Martins in the 64th minute of play. When German Cano came up free with the goalie in the 65th minute, the Marquês de Herval 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 German Cano couldn't finish the play. After some careless play in the Ecuador defense, Alfredo Martins kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Julio Vera. The Ecuador fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Julio Vera should have stopped the shot. The audience thought a goal was coming when Daniel Zorita got free with Dida Taffarel in the 77th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. After 84th play minutes Daniel Zorita shot 4-1, a short shot which went by Dida Taffarel and just under the crossbar into goal. 86 minutes into the match, Ecuador's goal looked a bit too open when Alfredo Martins came free, but Julio Vera reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 89th minute the ball was on its way in behind Ecuador's goalkeeper Julio Vera, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. The home crowd let out a huge roar when the referee blew for the end of the game. Marquês de Herval were victorious despite being under pressure from Ecuador for much of the match.