Challenge

Tamsus Miškas
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. Hikmet Lebib kicked well hit freekick during the 4th minute of the match. Luis Andino sent away a hard shot on goal in the 5th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. When Ecuador's Cristian Sancho in the 10th minute got a chance for a shot 10th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye FC Žalia Giria's goalie prevented a goal. In the 12th minute, Daniel Zorita 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: 0-1. An unexpectedly hard shot by Daniel Zorita in the 15th minute of play forced FC Žalia Giria's goalkeeper Vilmantas Matulas to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Daniel Zorita fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 20th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Vilmantas Matulas having to interfere. An unexpectedly hard shot by Luis Andino in the 23rd minute of play forced FC Žalia Giria's goalkeeper Vilmantas Matulas to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. FC Žalia Giria's Vilmantas Matulas played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Daniel Zorita in the 24th minute of play. 25 minutes had been played when some careless play by FC Žalia Giria'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. In the 28th match minute, FC Žalia Giria was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Jack Grealish to maneuver through the defense. Vilmantas Matulas took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Daniel Zorita, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. 33 minutes into the match, Ecuador's Luis Andino sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Vilmantas Matulas narrowly saved just below the crossbar. 34 minutes into the game, one of Ecuador:s players got tackled near the goal, and the referee blew for a penalty. Avram Lupoaia walked up to take care of the penalty kick. He was aiming for the top corner, but the ball went just outside the post. Luis Andino might have been able to make a better finish in the 38th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Vilmantas Matulas. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Luis Andino ran back to his position shaking his head. 44 minutes into the game, Edgaras Žiemelis was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. FC Žalia Giria's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Ecuador the free kick. FC Žalia Giria's Saúl Gentiletti was first on the ball when the corner was shot and he dangerously headed the ball towards goal, but Julio Vera in the goal jumped up to prevent it from getting in. The crowd was extremely unhappy with the home team's performance in the first half. They were losing 0-2.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Saúl Gentiletti made a kick off. 53 minutes into the match, Ecuador's goal looked a bit too open when Ramūnas Lipskis came free, but Julio Vera reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. FC Žalia Giria's attacker deliberately struck the ball against an opponent to win a corner for his team. The corner was taken by Saúl Gentiletti in the 58th minute. The corner ended in Saúl Gentiletti almost managing to get the ball behind the net, but Ecuador's Julio Vera did a great save. Cristian Sancho's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Vilmantas Matulas read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 64th minute of play. In the 66th match minute, Ecuador was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Primitivo Andino to maneuver through the defense. 67 minutes into the match, Ecuador's goal looked a bit too open when Jack Grealish came free, but Julio Vera reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 68th minute, Cristian Sancho reached a very good position and smashed the ball with a huge effort into the net, just to the left of Vilmantas Matulas. The goal made the score 0-3. Rokas Kavaliauskas hit a great freekick 73 minutes into the match. Antonio Arias kicked well hit freekick during the 78th minute of the match. Ecuador's Julio Vera played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Saúl Gentiletti in the 78th minute of play. In the 80th minute, Saúl Gentiletti made a precise shot to the right of Julio Vera. Ecuador's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 1-3. In the 83rd minute, Saúl Gentiletti left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The FC Žalia Giria fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 2-3. Ecuador played a much better game than FC Žalia Giria and deserved their victory. The FC Žalia Giria players were clearly disappointed as they left the ground.