Challenge

Monumental R. Mejia
Spectators: 40 (Terracing: 31, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) Ecuador's Daniel Zorita started the match with a crisp pass. The crowd had been anticipating this game for weeks and the excitement in the stadium was easily visible. After 2 minutes of play, River de Ramos Mejía's Alejo Maties made it 1-0 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Julio Vera was left in no man's land by his defense there! 10 minutes into the match, Ecuador's Cristian Sancho sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Eleuterio Maureo narrowly saved just below the crossbar. When Christian Weets came up free with the goalie in the 11th minute, the River de Ramos Mejía fans jumped to their feet. But the shot missed the goal by a fraction of an inch, and the fans sat back down disappointed that Christian Weets couldn't finish the play. Angelo Grabiel's shot when he came free in front of the goal in the 21stth minute, Julio Vera skillfully showed off with a save to what seemed to be an obvious goal. In the 23rd minute Cristian Sancho shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Eleuterio Maureo saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. After a defensive mix-up in Ecuador's zone, Angelo Grabiel stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Julio Vera came out of the goal and Angelo Grabiel tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Julio Vera made an important save on a dangerous shot by Angelo Grabiel in the 26th minute. 27 minutes into the match, Christian Weets dribbled the ball past the defender and swiftly kicked the ball to the left of Julio Vera, 2-1. Eleuterio Maureo made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Daniel Zorita in the 32nd minute of play. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Felix Montenegro in the 37th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Eleuterio Maureo saved River de Ramos Mejía from getting behind. After a rather tough play, River de Ramos Mejía's Pedalas Peca got a free kick in the 39th minute. An unexpectedly hard shot by Cristian Sancho in the 43rd minute of play forced River de Ramos Mejía's goalkeeper Eleuterio Maureo to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Daniel Zorita sent away a hard shot on goal in the 47th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. When the referee blew for the end of the half the home team players were clearly happier, as they went in to the break leading 2-1.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Angelo Grabiel was the one to do the kick off. After 61 minutes, Christian Weets mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the River de Ramos Mejía and the Ecuador players grew even worse after the yellow card. The supporters of Ecuador booed when River de Ramos Mejía was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 61 match minutes in a wonderful position. Christian Weets didn't get a good kick on the ball. Daniel Zorita kicked well hit freekick during the 64th minute of the match. Julio Vera showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Angelo Grabiel in the 65th minute of the match. In the 70th minute Christian Weets 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. When Angelo Grabiel came up free with the goalie in the 72nd minute, the River de Ramos Mejía fans jumped to their feet. But the shot missed the goal by a fraction of an inch, and the fans sat back down disappointed that Angelo Grabiel couldn't finish the play. Christian Weets took the ball and in the 74 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Julio Vera. Julio Vera dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 3-1. Ecuador's Daniel Zorita was standing unmarked in front of the goal when he, in the 77th play minute, got the ball and easily drilled it into the goal. Eleuterio Maureo took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Cristian Sancho, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. An unexpectedly hard shot by Christian Weets in the 87th minute of play forced Ecuador's goalkeeper Julio Vera to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 89th minute of the match, Daniel Zorita got a very nice opportunity to score, but Eleuterio Maureo was well-placed and pushed the ball away from the goal at the left post. Metodi Dutzov charged in rather forcefully in the 90th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Metodi Dutzov the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. Eleuterio Maureo was in exellent shape and made a fantastic save when he, in the 91st minute of the match, managed to get hold of the ball after a long shot from Daniel Zorita. 95 minutes into the match, River de Ramos Mejía's Christian Weets sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Julio Vera narrowly saved just below the crossbar. The River de Ramos Mejía support was delighted with a win in a match that could easily have ended differently.