Challenge

Battle of death
Spectators: 45 (Terracing: 35, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when Martín Ulloa kicked off to start the match. In the 3rd minute Cristian Sancho shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Juan Benavides saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. The supporters of Ecuador booed when ►Las Mercedes F.C◄ was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 7 match minutes in a wonderful position. Giancarlo Mora didn't get a good kick on the ball. 8 minutes into the match, Daniel Zorita had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Juan Benavides. ►Las Mercedes F.C◄'s manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Daniel Zorita was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 0-1. In the 11th minute, Felix Montenegro 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. ►Las Mercedes F.C◄'s Juan Benavides played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Daniel Zorita in the 14th minute of play. In the 15th minute of the match Ecuador got a corner. ►Las Mercedes F.C◄'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. Juan Benavides showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Daniel Zorita in the 22nd minute of the match. Ecuador's Daniel Zorita couldn't find anyone to pass the ball to, so he shot a long shot towards the goal in the 24th minute. The shot went wide which resulted in a goal kick for ►Las Mercedes F.C◄. If Cristian Sancho had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 26th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 32nd minute, Martín Ulloa hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. An unexpectedly hard shot by Cristian Sancho in the 36th minute of play forced ►Las Mercedes F.C◄'s goalkeeper Juan Benavides to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 39thth minute of the game Guillermo Escalona who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Ecuador's Julio Vera was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. Juan Benavides showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Daniel Zorita in the 40th minute of the match. Agustín Saelices charged in rather forcefully in the 42nd minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Agustín Saelices the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. A collision led to Ecuador getting a freekick after 42 minutes play. Agustín Saelices hit a great ball. Julio Vera was in exellent shape and made a fantastic save when he, in the 44th minute of the match, managed to get hold of the ball after a long shot from Tomás Benavides.

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. 57 minutes into the match, Ecuador's goal looked a bit too open when Humberto Escobar came free, but Julio Vera reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. The ►Las Mercedes F.C◄ fans' excitement grew in the 59th match minute when ►Las Mercedes F.C◄'s Humberto Escobar looked to have a clear shot with the ball near the goal. The shot wasn't hard, but the ball still rolled over the goal line to make it 1-1 before the goalkeeper had a chance to intervene. Julio Vera made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Humberto Escobar in the 63rd minute of play. Juan Benavides took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Daniel Zorita, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Daniel Zorita's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Juan Benavides read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 75th minute of play. After a defensive mix-up in ►Las Mercedes F.C◄'s zone, Daniel Zorita stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Juan Benavides 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. Daniel Zorita received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 79th minute. Juan Benavides tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. In the 81st minute, Antonio Arias hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. After 82 played minutes, ►Las Mercedes F.C◄'s Giancarlo Mora shot from a long distance, and at first it looked like the ball was going into the goal, but the goalkeeper Julio Vera came through and got his fingers on the ball before it flew over the goal line. He then quickly gripped the ball tighter before the forwards in ►Las Mercedes F.C◄ reached it. In the 84th minute, Cristian Sancho 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. Daniel Zorita recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 85th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. 89 minutes into the match, ►Las Mercedes F.C◄'s goal looked a bit too open when Cristian Sancho came free, but Juan Benavides reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line.