Challenge

Ricardo E. Bochini
Spectators: 40 (Terracing: 31, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) Romulo Gelacio made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Daniel Zorita in the 3rd minute of play. After having played for 10 minutes, Felix Montenegro managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Ecuador's supporters crossed their fingers, but Felix Montenegro was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. 15 minutes into the match, Ecuador's goalkeeper Julio Vera had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by He Qiang. INDEPENDIENTE FUTBOL CLUB were awarded a corner in the 16th minute after Ecuador's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Norberto Fresco took the corner. A collision led to INDEPENDIENTE FUTBOL CLUB getting a freekick after 20 minutes play. Higinio Barros hit a great ball. After 21 minutes of play, Ecuador's Daniel Zorita made it 1-1 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Romulo Gelacio was left in no man's land by his defense there! Romulo Gelacio took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Cristian Sancho, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. With an all-out effort, INDEPENDIENTE FUTBOL CLUB's Julio Vera threw himself towards the right post 27 minutes into the match and grabbed hold of the ball from Petros Mousa, which otherwise would have been placed in the net. Higinio Barros hit a great freekick 31 minutes into the match. Romulo Gelacio made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Cristian Sancho in the 37th minute of play. Cristian Sancho received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 39th minute. Romulo Gelacio tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. After a defensive mix-up in Ecuador's zone, He Qiang stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Julio Vera came out of the goal and He Qiang tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Romulo Gelacio showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Daniel Zorita in the 42nd minute of the match. Juan Sebastián Puig hit a great freekick 47 minutes into the match.

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. Daniel Zorita could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 52nd minute of the match, but Romulo Gelacio made a huge save. In the 53rd minute Ecuador were awarded a corner. Daniel Zorita went to the cornerflag to take it. A collision led to Ecuador getting a freekick after 53 minutes play. Agustín Saelices hit a great ball. Agustín Saelices fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 56th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Romulo Gelacio having to interfere. Petros Mousa received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 58th minute. Julio Vera tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Luis Andino sent away a hard shot on goal in the 60th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After some careless play in the Ecuador defense, He Qiang kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Julio Vera. The Ecuador fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Julio Vera should have stopped the shot. Petros Mousa fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 70th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Julio Vera having to interfere. Felix Montenegro could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 73rd minute of the match, but Romulo Gelacio made a huge save. Norberto Fresco scored 3-1 in the 75th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Julio Vera, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. In the 78th minute the ball was on its way in behind INDEPENDIENTE FUTBOL CLUB's goalkeeper Romulo Gelacio, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. Julio Vera made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Boni Yarman in the 86th minute of play. Cristian Sancho fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 87th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Romulo Gelacio having to interfere. After having played for 90 minutes, He Qiang managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. INDEPENDIENTE FUTBOL CLUB's supporters crossed their fingers, but He Qiang was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. In the 94th minute Boni Yarman 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. INDEPENDIENTE FUTBOL CLUB's fans were exulted and cheered after their team won in a match that could easily have gone the other way.