Challenge

Nelson Road
Spectators: 44 (Terracing: 34, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when Daniel Zorita kicked off to start the match. Emerson Whaley showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Daniel Zorita, who was totally free with the ball in the 3rd minute. 3 minutes into the game, Daniel Zorita cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 0-1. Emerson Whaley was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. In the 7th minute Daniel Zorita shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Emerson Whaley saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Julio Vera showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Lawrence Hopson, who was totally free with the ball in the 10th minute. In the 11th minute Daniel Zorita shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Emerson Whaley saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. 13 minutes into the match, Ecuador's goalkeeper Julio Vera had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Irmantas Zenkevičius. Emerson Whaley took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Cristian Sancho, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Cristian Sancho might have been able to make a better finish in the 20th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Emerson Whaley. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Cristian Sancho ran back to his position shaking his head. Emerson Whaley took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Cristian Sancho, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. 24 minutes into the match, AFC Richmond's goal looked a bit too open when Felix Montenegro came free, but Emerson Whaley reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. 25 minutes had been played when some careless play by AFC Richmond's defense caused the ball to cross the line for a corner. Daniel Zorita was slow to take the kick. During this time Ecuador's players had a chance to rest. A nice corner shot did that Felix Montenegro got away a dangerous shot. Despite this Emerson Whaley quite easily got ahold of the ball to make the save. In the 31st minute Cristian Sancho shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Emerson Whaley saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 33rd minute Lawrence Hopson 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. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Lawrence Hopson in the 35th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Julio Vera prevented the ball from getting in the gole. 38 minutes into the match, AFC Richmond's goal looked a bit too open when Cristian Sancho came free, but Emerson Whaley reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. 43 minutes into the match, Ecuador's goal looked a bit too open when Erasmo Gartxot came free, but Julio Vera reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Julio Vera made an important save on a dangerous shot by Irmantas Zenkevičius in the 44th minute. After having played for 48 minutes, Cristian Sancho managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Ecuador's supporters crossed their fingers, but Cristian Sancho was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. After the first half Ecuador were leading 0-2. They had played with great self confidence throughout the first half and fully deserved their lead.

If Lawrence Hopson had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 51st minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After having played for 53 minutes, Daniel Zorita managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Ecuador's supporters crossed their fingers, but Daniel Zorita was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. When Cristian Sancho came up free with the goalie in the 59th 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. Cristian Sancho sent away a hard shot on goal in the 62nd minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Lawrence Hopson in the 65th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Julio Vera saved Ecuador from getting behind. Julio Vera took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Irmantas Zenkevičius, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Ecuador's Julio Vera played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Erasmo Gartxot in the 70th minute of play. Ecuador's Cristian Sancho got a good chance for a goal in the 77th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. AFC Richmond's Erin Valencia was substituted for Ali Can. In the 81st minute of the match Daniel Zorita shot from a long distance. The ball could have gone into the goal to the right of the goalkeeper, but Emerson Whaley showed his good shape when he easily got hold of the ball. After a defensive mix-up in AFC Richmond's zone, Daniel Zorita stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Emerson Whaley 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. AFC Richmond's defense didn't have a chance, in the 87th minute, when Cristian Sancho scored to the left of an out of position Emerson Whaley, making the score, 0-3. Filip Mladenovič's late challenge caught a Ecuador's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Filip Mladenovič helped the player get up and apologised. In a very dangerous position, a player in AFC Richmond fell when an opponent tried to get the ball from him in the 90th minute. Penalty! The goalkeeper, Emerson Whaley, was totally fooled by Ecuador's Daniel Zorita, who 91 minutes into the game made a penalty shot that went in on the goalkeeper's left side. Julio Vera showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Lawrence Hopson in the 95th minute of the match.