Challenge

Folke Anderson
Spectators: 44 (Terracing: 34, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) Colombia's Abram Sarmiento 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. In the 7th minute, İbrahim Volkan left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The Esmeraldas S.C. fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 1-0. The supporters of Colombia booed when Esmeraldas S.C. was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 10 match minutes in a wonderful position. Torsti Puistola didn't get a good kick on the ball. An unexpectedly hard shot by Martinez Cines in the 14th minute of play forced Colombia's goalkeeper Pedro Manzanares to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 15th minute Axel Montenegro shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Aguinaga Nebot saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Aguinaga Nebot took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Axel Montenegro, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Aguinaga Nebot took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Axel Montenegro, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Pedro Manzanares took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from İbrahim Volkan, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Aguinaga Nebot took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Axel Montenegro, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Pedro Manzanares showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Celso Villamediana in the 27th minute of the match. An unexpectedly hard shot by Celso Villamediana in the 27th minute of play forced Colombia's goalkeeper Pedro Manzanares to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. An unexpectedly hard shot by Martinez Cines in the 33rd minute of play forced Colombia's goalkeeper Pedro Manzanares to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. 36 minutes into the game, Axel Montenegro cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 1-1. Aguinaga Nebot was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. 1-2 became the score in the 40th minute when Abram Sarmiento elegantly shot the ball into goal just under the crossbar. Pedro Manzanares took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from İbrahim Volkan, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Colombia's goalkeeper couldn't reach when İbrahim Volkan 44 minutes into the game got a good kick on the ball which found its way into goal just inside left pole. 2-2. After fighting hard for a draw in the first half, the players were able to take a much needed rest.

In the 53rd match minute, Colombia was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Axel Montenegro to maneuver through the defense. Damian Maftei took the ball and in the 54 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Pedro Manzanares. Pedro Manzanares dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 3-2. Abram Sarmiento kicked well hit freekick during the 59th minute of the match. When Celso Villamediana came up free with the goalie in the 60th minute, the Esmeraldas S.C. 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 Celso Villamediana couldn't finish the play. İbrahim Volkan struck a weak shot in the 67th minute. Pedro Manzanares didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Esmeraldas S.C.. Colombia's Ignacio Mastache was substituted for Abram Sarmiento. Colombia made a substitution. Abram Secada replaced Axel Montenegro. Esmeraldas S.C.'s Flavio Valines was substituted for Martinez Cines. The audience was convinced that İbrahim Volkan's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Pedro Manzanares was relentless in the 71st minute of the game. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling İbrahim Volkan in the 73rd minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Pedro Manzanares prevented the ball from getting in the gole. İbrahim Volkan blasted a shot towards the goal in the 74th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Pedro Manzanares having to make a save. 77 minutes into the match, Stefanos Terzopoulos had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Pedro Manzanares. Colombia's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Stefanos Terzopoulos was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 4-2. If İbrahim Volkan had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 81st minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. Pedro Manzanares showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from İbrahim Volkan in the 84th minute of the match. After a defensive mix-up in Colombia's zone, İbrahim Volkan stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Pedro Manzanares came out of the goal and İbrahim Volkan tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. 90 minutes into the game, Pascual Carballar cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 4-3. Aguinaga Nebot was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. If Damian Maftei had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 95th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead.