Challenge

Skαndalon Stadium
Spectators: 43 (Terracing: 33, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when Markos Santamouris kicked off to start the match. After some fancy dribbling in the 5th 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. Miltos Kastanis breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. In the 6th minute, Argonautes Irakliou's Tilemachos Balodimos ran free of his marker and smoothly shot the ball into the goal behind Julio Vera. Julio Vera yelled at his defense, as they had left him out to dry. 1-0. The audience thought a goal was coming when Markos Santamouris got free with Julio Vera in the 9th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Miltos Kastanis made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Cristian Sancho in the 11th minute of play. Ecuador's attacker deliberately struck the ball against an opponent to win a corner for his team. The corner was taken by Daniel Zorita in the 12th minute. A nice corner shot did that Daniel Zorita got away a dangerous shot. Despite this Miltos Kastanis quite easily got ahold of the ball to make the save. Miltos Kastanis made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Daniel Zorita in the 13th minute of play. After some fancy dribbling in the 16th minute, Cristian Sancho managed to get in a good position for a shot. Ecuador's supporters rose to their feet, but Cristian Sancho was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Miltos Kastanis breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. In the 18th 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. Ecuador's Julio Vera proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 19th minute of the match, managed to save Ecuador from getting a goal against them. Argonautes Irakliou's Miltos Kastanis played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Cristian Sancho in the 20th minute of play. Miltos Kastanis showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Cristian Sancho in the 24th minute of the match. Argonautes Irakliou's Miltos Kastanis played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Cristian Sancho in the 25th minute of play. Miltos Kastanis showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Daniel Zorita in the 27th minute of the match. Miltos Kastanis showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Luis Andino, who was totally free with the ball in the 28th minute. When Ecuador's Cristian Sancho in the 33rd minute got a chance for a shot 33rd didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Argonautes Irakliou's goalie prevented a goal. Ecuador's attacker deliberately struck the ball against an opponent to win a corner for his team. The corner was taken by Daniel Zorita in the 40th minute. Cristian Sancho recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 43rd minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Luis Andino struck a weak shot in the 46th minute. Miltos Kastanis didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Ecuador. After having played for 47 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.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Daniel Zorita was the one to do the kick off. In the 51st match minute, Argonautes Irakliou was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Tilemachos Balodimos to maneuver through the defense. Miltos Kastanis took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Cristian Sancho, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. After having played for 55 minutes, Mathias Jansen managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Argonautes Irakliou's supporters crossed their fingers, but Mathias Jansen was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. An unexpectedly hard shot by Daniel Zorita in the 61st minute of play forced Argonautes Irakliou's goalkeeper Miltos Kastanis to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 65th minute Cristian Sancho shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Miltos Kastanis saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Miltos Kastanis took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Agustín Saelices, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. If Daniel Zorita had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 69th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Markos Santamouris received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 73rd minute. Julio Vera tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. In the 75th minute, Giannis Asimos hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. 77 minutes into the match, Ecuador's Luis Andino sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Miltos Kastanis narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Miltos Kastanis showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Cristian Sancho in the 78th minute of the match. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Camilo Gisbert during the 81st minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. In the 81st minute, Camilo Gisbert hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. When Nikos Papafotakis came up free with the goalie in the 83rd minute, the Argonautes Irakliou 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 Nikos Papafotakis couldn't finish the play. Ecuador's attacker deliberately struck the ball against an opponent to win a corner for his team. The corner was taken by Daniel Zorita in the 85th minute. The corner went over the outstretched arms of Argonautes Irakliou's goalie and right to Luis Andino. He fired away a shot at goal, but the shot had too much spin, and it went just outside the goal. Argonautes Irakliou's manager breathed a sigh of relief on the sidelines as his team had managed to escape an almost certain goal. The audience thought a goal was coming when Felix Montenegro got free with Miltos Kastanis in the 87th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. After 88 played minutes Argonautes Irakliou got a freekick which was hit by Panos Kazatzis. After having played for 91 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. Cristian Sancho sent away a hard shot on goal in the 93rd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. An unexpectedly hard shot by Tilemachos Balodimos in the 97th minute of play forced Ecuador's goalkeeper Julio Vera to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. After 97 minutes of play, Argonautes Irakliou's Tilemachos Balodimos made it 2-1 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Julio Vera was left in no man's land by his defense there! When the referee blew the final whistle, Argonautes Irakliou could leave the field as winners, despite Ecuador having more of the ball for most of the match.