Challenge

ΑΓ.ΣΟΦΙΑ-OPAP ARENA
Spectators: 44 (Terracing: 34, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Christos Kostis got the match started through his kick off. ♏ⒶⓃⒶⓈⓉⒶⓈⒾ Ⓕ.Ⓒ♏'s Dionysis Souanis was standing unmarked in front of the goal when he, in the 9th play minute, got the ball and easily drilled it into the goal. Julio Vera made a fantastic save in the 11th minute, when Christos Kostis sent off a good shot on target. Julio Vera made an important save on a dangerous shot by Christos Kostis in the 14th minute. Julio Vera showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Dionysis Souanis in the 20th minute of the match. Cristian Sancho recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 21st minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. In the 23rd minute Christos Kostis 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. Zinon Anagnostou took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Daniel Zorita, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 26th minute the ball was on its way in behind ♏ⒶⓃⒶⓈⓉⒶⓈⒾ Ⓕ.Ⓒ♏'s goalkeeper Zinon Anagnostou, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. Ecuador's Julio Vera played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Dionysis Souanis in the 29th minute of play. Zinon Anagnostou showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Agustín Saelices in the 31st minute of the match. Alketas Tsirakis in the 33rdth minute had a little luck and got a chance for a shot in front of the goal. Without hesitation aimed to the right of Julio Vera, who managed to lunge to the right direction and made a save. After 37 played minutes ♏ⒶⓃⒶⓈⓉⒶⓈⒾ Ⓕ.Ⓒ♏ got a freekick which was hit by Roch Pisarczyk. Dionysis Souanis blasted a shot towards the goal in the 39th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Julio Vera having to make a save. 41 minutes into the match, ♏ⒶⓃⒶⓈⓉⒶⓈⒾ Ⓕ.Ⓒ♏'s goal looked a bit too open when Daniel Zorita came free, but Zinon Anagnostou reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 41st match minute, Ecuador was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Felix Montenegro to maneuver through the defense. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Daniel Zorita in the 45th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Zinon Anagnostou prevented the ball from getting in the gole. The audience was convinced that Daniel Zorita's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Zinon Anagnostou was relentless in the 45th minute of the game. 46 minutes had been played when some careless play by ♏ⒶⓃⒶⓈⓉⒶⓈⒾ Ⓕ.Ⓒ♏'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. Af the end of the first half the score was 3-0. The first half had gone as expected for the home team.

After 51 played minutes Ecuador got a freekick which was hit by Cristian Sancho. Julio Vera showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Christos Kostis, who was totally free with the ball in the 53rd minute. ♏ⒶⓃⒶⓈⓉⒶⓈⒾ Ⓕ.Ⓒ♏'s attacker deliberately struck the ball against an opponent to win a corner for his team. The corner was taken by Eber Ludueña in the 54th minute. After taking down the ball on ♏ⒶⓃⒶⓈⓉⒶⓈⒾ Ⓕ.Ⓒ♏'s corner Eber Ludueña fired away a hard shot, but the defenders efficiently covered the most dangerous angles and Julio Vera quite easily take care of the ball. Daniel Zorita struck a weak shot in the 56th minute. Zinon Anagnostou didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Ecuador. Cristian Sancho sent away a hard shot on goal in the 57th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. When the match clock showed 60 minutes, the score became 4-0 when Alketas Tsirakis sped through Ecuador's defense and sent away a curving shot that went into the net to the right of Julio Vera. Roch Pisarczyk hit a great freekick 62 minutes into the match. Daniel Zorita might have been able to make a better finish in the 64th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Zinon Anagnostou. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Daniel Zorita ran back to his position shaking his head. ♏ⒶⓃⒶⓈⓉⒶⓈⒾ Ⓕ.Ⓒ♏ made a substitution. Paraskevas Panagiotakos replaced Alketas Tsirakis. Through an outstanding action, after 67 minutes, Zinon Anagnostou successfully got his hands on the ball before it slid into the goal at the right post. After 68 minutes ♏ⒶⓃⒶⓈⓉⒶⓈⒾ Ⓕ.Ⓒ♏'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 led Ecuador's Daniel Zorita to fire away a dangerous shot which Zinon Anagnostou despite some difficulties managed to get hold on the ball. An unexpectedly hard shot by Juan Sebastián Puig in the 72nd minute of play forced ♏ⒶⓃⒶⓈⓉⒶⓈⒾ Ⓕ.Ⓒ♏'s goalkeeper Zinon Anagnostou to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. The audience thought a goal was coming when Cristian Sancho got free with Zinon Anagnostou in the 73rd minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Julio Vera made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Christos Kostis in the 80th minute of play. Cristian Sancho in the 81stth minute had a little luck and got a chance for a shot in front of the goal. Without hesitation aimed to the right of Zinon Anagnostou, who managed to lunge to the right direction and made a save. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Christos Kostis in the 83rd minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Julio Vera prevented the ball from getting in the gole. The audience thought a goal was coming when Daniel Zorita got free with Zinon Anagnostou in the 87th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Julio Vera took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Paraskevas Panagiotakos, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Many of Ecuador's supporters were seen to leave the ground early as it became clear their team was going to lose. Ecuador may have spent more time on the ball, but ♏ⒶⓃⒶⓈⓉⒶⓈⒾ Ⓕ.Ⓒ♏ were more willing to take their chances and they walked away with the win.