Challenge

Queen Arena
Spectators: 43 (Terracing: 33, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) Emerald's Victor Piţurcă 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. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Felix Montenegro in the 4th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Nichifor Nicolae saved Emerald from getting behind. In the 5th minute Daniel Zorita shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Nichifor Nicolae saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Nichifor Nicolae came out of the goal in the 5th minute to try and stop a shot by Ecuador's Daniel Zorita. But to his dismay, Daniel Zorita quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 0-1. In the 8th minute, Victor Piţurcă got an opportunity to score, but he didn't get a solid hit on the ball and ended up kicking it wide of the goal. Luis Andino fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 10th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Nichifor Nicolae having to interfere. Julio Vera made an important save on a dangerous shot by Victor Piţurcă in the 16th minute. Nichifor Nicolae made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Cristian Sancho in the 22nd minute of play. Emerald's Nichifor Nicolae played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Cristian Sancho in the 27th minute of play. 31 minutes into the match, Emerald's Victor Piţurcă sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Julio Vera narrowly saved just below the crossbar. 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 35th minute. 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 Nichifor Nicolae quite easily take care of the ball. Nichifor Nicolae showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Daniel Zorita in the 37th minute of the match. Julio Vera made an important save on a dangerous shot by Victor Piţurcă in the 40th minute. After a rather tough play, Ecuador's Antonio Arias got a free kick in the 46th minute. In the 47th match minute, Ecuador was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Antonio Arias to maneuver through the defense. After the first half Ecuador were leading 0-1. They had played with great self confidence throughout the first half and fully deserved their lead.

The wind increased when Daniel Zorita made the kick off in the second half. Julio Vera showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Victor Piţurcă, who was totally free with the ball in the 55th minute. Julio Vera took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Jaime Carioca, 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 Victor Piţurcă in the 62nd minute of play. 63 minutes had been played when some careless play by Ecuador's defense caused the ball to cross the line for a corner. Jaime Carioca was slow to take the kick. During this time Emerald's players had a chance to rest. 69 minutes into the match, Emerald's goalkeeper Nichifor Nicolae had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Daniel Zorita. Julio Vera took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Victor Piţurcă, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. With a little luck, Emerald's Nichifor Nicolae got control of the ball when Cristian Sancho tried to sneak it across the goal line. A collision led to Ecuador getting a freekick after 79 minutes play. Antonio Arias hit a great ball. Ecuador's Julio Vera played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Jaime Carioca in the 80th minute of play. Nichifor Nicolae made an important save on a dangerous shot by Daniel Zorita in the 86th minute. Victor Piţurcă blasted a shot towards the goal in the 88th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Julio Vera having to make a save. An unexpectedly hard shot by Victor Piţurcă in the 88th minute of play forced Ecuador's goalkeeper Julio Vera to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Julio Vera made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Victor Piţurcă in the 92nd minute of play. 92 minutes into the match, Ecuador's goal looked a bit too open when Victor Piţurcă came free, but Julio Vera reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Emerald's Jaime Carioca managed, thanks to a brazen rush, stole the ball on a throw-in made by Camilo Gisbert in the 95 minute of the game.