Challenge

Ciudad Universitaria
Spectators: 45 (Terracing: 35, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) Daniel Zorita made the kick off and thus started the match. Club Universidad Nacional's Fernando Abarca played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Cristian Sancho in the 5th minute of play. 6 minutes had been played when some careless play by Club Universidad Nacional'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. The corner ended in Daniel Zorita almost managing to get the ball behind the net, but Club Universidad Nacional's Fernando Abarca did a great save. Club Universidad Nacional's Teodosio Sendoa got a good chance for a goal in the 11th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. An unexpectedly hard shot by Cristian Sancho in the 18th minute of play forced Club Universidad Nacional's goalkeeper Fernando Abarca to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 27th minute of the match Ecuador got a corner. Club Universidad Nacional's goalie ran out to the linesman to protest the call, but the linesman resolutely pointed his flag at the cornerflag. Daniel Zorita ran over to the corner to take the kick. After taking down the ball on Ecuador's corner Daniel Zorita fired away a hard shot, but the defenders efficiently covered the most dangerous angles and Fernando Abarca quite easily take care of the ball. Julio Vera took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Lorenzo Aimar, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. When Cristian Sancho came up free with the goalie in the 30th 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. Lorenzo Aimar hit a great freekick 30 minutes into the match. In the 41st minute Fabio Artal 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. In the 42nd minute Club Universidad Nacional were awarded a corner. Gualterio Pio went to the cornerflag to take it. Julio Vera made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Lorenzo Aimar in the 44th minute of play. The first half was very even, with the score at 0-0 when the whistle went for half-time. The players welcomed the break and quickly retired to the dressing rooms.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Lorenzo Aimar to strike the kick off in the second half. After 52 played minutes Club Universidad Nacional got a freekick which was hit by Bonifacio Valerio. Cristian Sancho recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 53rd minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. With a little luck, Club Universidad Nacional's Fernando Abarca got control of the ball when Agustín Saelices tried to sneak it across the goal line. A collision led to Club Universidad Nacional getting a freekick after 57 minutes play. Bonifacio Valerio hit a great ball. Fernando Abarca didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Cristian Sancho went, in the 59th minute, to the upper right corner, 0-1 was the resulting score. In the 64th minute the ball was on its way in behind Club Universidad Nacional's goalkeeper Fernando Abarca, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. After a defensive mix-up in Club Universidad Nacional's zone, Cristian Sancho stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Fernando Abarca came out of the goal and Cristian Sancho tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. When the match had gone on for 70 minutes, Daniel Zorita took a quick shot and it went in 0-2 without a chance for Fernando Abarca to make any attempt to save it. Daniel Zorita could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 78th minute of the match, but Fernando Abarca made a huge save. The audience thought a goal was coming when Daniel Zorita got free with Fernando Abarca in the 78th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. After 81 minutes Club Universidad Nacional'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. The corner ended in Daniel Zorita almost managing to get the ball behind the net, but Club Universidad Nacional's Fernando Abarca did a great save. After 85 minutes Club Universidad Nacional'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. Ecuador's Daniel Zorita was first on the ball when the corner was shot and he dangerously headed the ball towards goal, but Fernando Abarca in the goal jumped up to prevent it from getting in. In the 87th minute, Cristian Sancho left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The Ecuador fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 0-3. 90 minutes in the game, Cristian Sancho fired away an excellent shot, which passed to the side of the right post without Fernando Abarca having to interfere. Daniel Zorita sent away a hard shot on goal in the 96th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance.