Challenge

Martin Palermo
Spectators: 40 (Terracing: 31, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Daniel Zorita started the match with the kick off. 4 minutes into the match, Ecuador's goal looked a bit too open when Rodolfo Cordeiro came free, but Julio Vera reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. An unexpectedly hard shot by Cristian Sancho in the 5th minute of play forced Santa Maradona's goalkeeper Jonathan Errapel to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. 11 minutes into the game, Ecuador's Daniel Zorita nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Jonathan Errapel made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 0-2. Julio Vera made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Miguel Transito in the 22nd minute of play. Cristian Sancho fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 27th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Jonathan Errapel having to interfere. After 29 minutes of play, Ecuador's Cristian Sancho made it 0-4 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Jonathan Errapel was left in no man's land by his defense there! An unexpectedly hard shot by Daniel Zorita in the 31st minute of play forced Santa Maradona's goalkeeper Jonathan Errapel to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Ecuador's attacker deliberately struck the ball against an opponent to win a corner for his team. The corner was taken by Daniel Zorita in the 32nd minute. Jonathan Errapel showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Felix Montenegro, who was totally free with the ball in the 40th minute. A well-hit corner resulted in Felix Montes heading the ball towards the goal, but to his dismay he misdirected it and missed the goal completely. Santa Maradona's Jonathan Errapel played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Cristian Sancho in the 45th minute of play. If Rodolfo Cordeiro had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 48th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Disappointed in the 0-4 score, the home team went to the dressing room to adjust tactics for the second half.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Miguel Transito to make the kick off. 52 minutes into the match, Santa Maradona's goalkeeper Jonathan Errapel had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Daniel Zorita. 53 minutes into the match, Santa Maradona's Cecilio Beltxe sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Julio Vera narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Jonathan Errapel was in the perfect position, and the defense had done a good job marking him, but Daniel Zorita showcased his skills and made a perfect shot to score 0-5 in the 56 minute of play. Jonathan Errapel took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Cristian Sancho, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. 62 minutes into the match, Ecuador's goal looked a bit too open when Cecilio Beltxe came free, but Julio Vera reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Cristian Sancho kicked well hit freekick during the 62nd minute of the match. Julio Vera took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Rodolfo Cordeiro, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. After 65 minutes Ecuador's defender was forced to head the ball over the line for a corner. It was Haroldo Martxot who took care of the corner kick. Ecuador's Julio Vera played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Rodolfo Cordeiro in the 68th minute of play. Ecuador's Julio Vera played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Miguel Transito in the 70th minute of play. In the 72nd minute the ball was on its way in behind Ecuador's goalkeeper Julio Vera, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. The audience thought a goal was coming when Daniel Zorita got free with Jonathan Errapel in the 74th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Daniel Zorita's shot when he came free in front of the goal in the 78thth minute, Jonathan Errapel skillfully showed off with a save to what seemed to be an obvious goal. Santa Maradona's Jonathan Errapel proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 81st minute of the match, managed to save Santa Maradona from getting a goal against them. Corneliu Văcăroiu kicked well hit freekick during the 83rd minute of the match. Gervasio Garcia kicked well hit freekick during the 85th minute of the match. If Daniel Zorita had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 93rd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. If Rodolfo Cordeiro had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 95th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After a defensive mix-up in Ecuador's zone, Cecilio Beltxe stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Julio Vera came out of the goal and Cecilio Beltxe tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Ecuador's players went to the stands to thank the travelling support. The fan's backing had helped spurr the team on to a fine performance that won them the match.