Challenge

Azadi Stadium
Spectators: 45 (Terracing: 35, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) In the 4th minute, Arden Poulin made a precise shot to the right of Julio Vera. Ecuador's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 1-0. Ecuador's defense didn't have a chance, in the 7th minute, when Arden Poulin scored to the left of an out of position Julio Vera, making the score, 2-0. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Felix Montenegro in the 10th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Santos Perez prevented the ball from getting in the gole. Arden Poulin received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 15th minute. Julio Vera tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Ecuador's Julio Vera proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 22nd minute of the match, managed to save Ecuador from getting a goal against them. Léopold Castros short, quick shot in the 23rdth minute got Julio Vera to make great effort and bar the ball away from getting in. After a defensive mix-up in Persepolis F.C.'s zone, Daniel Zorita stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Santos Perez 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. Santos Perez showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Cristian Sancho in the 26th minute of the match. Daniel Zorita struck a weak shot in the 27th minute. Santos Perez didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Ecuador. Santos Perez didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Daniel Zorita went, in the 31st minute, to the upper right corner, 2-1 was the resulting score. After having played for 38 minutes, Arden Poulin managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Persepolis F.C.'s supporters crossed their fingers, but Arden Poulin was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. The supporters of Ecuador booed when Persepolis F.C. was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 43 match minutes in a wonderful position. Abraham Dutton didn't get a good kick on the ball. When Luis Andino fell near the penalty area in the 44th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Ecuador's protests and gave Luis Andino a yellow card for diving instead. After 45 played minutes Ecuador got a freekick which was hit by Luis Andino. In the 46th minute Arden Poulin 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. Julio Vera came out of the goal in the 46th minute to try and stop a shot by Persepolis F.C.'s Arden Poulin. But to his dismay, Arden Poulin quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 3-1.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Daniel Zorita made a kick off. In the 51st minute, Avery Merrill hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Léopold Castro received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 55th minute. Julio Vera tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Daniel Zorita might have been able to make a better finish in the 57th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Santos Perez. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Daniel Zorita ran back to his position shaking his head. With a little luck, Persepolis F.C.'s Santos Perez got control of the ball when Daniel Zorita tried to sneak it across the goal line. Daniel Zorita could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 64th minute of the match, but Santos Perez made a huge save. After a defensive mix-up in Ecuador's zone, Arden Poulin stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Julio Vera came out of the goal and Arden Poulin tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Julio Vera took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Arden Poulin, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. An unexpectedly hard shot by Arden Poulin in the 73rd minute of play forced Ecuador's goalkeeper Julio Vera to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. With a little luck, Persepolis F.C.'s Santos Perez got control of the ball when Daniel Zorita tried to sneak it across the goal line. Cristian Sancho who was well placed in front of the goal fired away a dangerous shot that in the 80thth minute tested the skills of Santos Perez when he managed to save the team from getting behind. Persepolis F.C.'s Arden Poulin got a good chance for a goal in the 81st minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Cristian Sancho hit a great freekick 84 minutes into the match. Santos Perez came out of the goal in the 87th minute to try and stop a shot by Ecuador's Cristian Sancho. But to his dismay, Cristian Sancho quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 3-2. In the 91st minute the ball was on its way in behind Persepolis F.C.'s goalkeeper Santos Perez, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. Persepolis F.C.'s supporters were highly satisfied with the result. They cheered their team of the pitch, having watched them win a very even match.