Challenge

Patissia Arena
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. A collision led to Paralia Athens getting a freekick after 2 minutes play. Mircea Robu hit a great ball. After having played for 3 minutes, Cristian Sancho managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Ecuador's supporters crossed their fingers, but Cristian Sancho was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. When Cristian Sancho came up free with the goalie in the 5th minute, the Ecuador 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 Cristian Sancho couldn't finish the play. Primitivo Andino hit a great freekick 7 minutes into the match. After 10 played minutes Ecuador got a freekick which was hit by Antonio Arias. An unexpectedly hard shot by Iulian Doinaș in the 11th minute of play forced Ecuador's goalkeeper Julio Vera to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Cristian Nicolescu showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Cristian Sancho, who was totally free with the ball in the 13th minute. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Manuel Marghescu during the 14th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. 16 minutes into the match, Paralia Athens's goal looked a bit too open when Cristian Sancho came free, but Cristian Nicolescu reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Paralia Athens's Cristian Nicolescu played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Cristian Sancho in the 17th minute of play. Cristian Nicolescu made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Cristian Sancho in the 18th minute of play. 24 minutes into the match, Ecuador's goal looked a bit too open when Petre Maghiran came free, but Julio Vera reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After 27 minutes of play Paralia Athens's Manuel Marghescu was too eager in his attempt to stop his opponent and brought him down. With that he got his second yellow card and was ordered off the ground. After a rather tough play, Paralia Athens's Manuel Marghescu got a free kick in the 27th minute. Cristian Nicolescu showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Daniel Zorita, who was totally free with the ball in the 29th minute. Cristian Sancho received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 30th minute. Cristian Nicolescu tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Cristian Nicolescu showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Daniel Zorita, who was totally free with the ball in the 31st minute. Cristian Sancho's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Cristian Nicolescu read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 40th minute of play. Ecuador were awarded a corner in the 41th minute after Paralia Athens's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Daniel Zorita took the corner. The corner led Ecuador's Daniel Zorita to fire away a dangerous shot which Cristian Nicolescu despite some difficulties managed to get hold on the ball. After 41 played minutes Ecuador got a freekick which was hit by Cristian Sancho. Daniel Zorita fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 46th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Cristian Nicolescu having to interfere. After a very even first half the match was still tied. The players went to their respective dressing rooms to discuss the tactics for the second half.

A collision led to Ecuador getting a freekick after 53 minutes play. Primitivo Andino hit a great ball. With a little luck, Paralia Athens's Cristian Nicolescu got control of the ball when Cristian Sancho tried to sneak it across the goal line. Cristian Nicolescu showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Cristian Sancho in the 64th minute of the match. In the 66th minute, Ecuador's Daniel Zorita ran free of his marker and smoothly shot the ball into the goal behind Cristian Nicolescu. Cristian Nicolescu yelled at his defense, as they had left him out to dry. 0-1. A throw-in in the 75th minute of the game was made by Primitivo Andino with Cristian Sancho as target, who quickly passed the ball forward. In the 76th minute, Cristian Sancho got an opportunity to score, but he didn't get a solid hit on the ball and ended up kicking it wide of the goal. After a defensive mix-up in Paralia Athens's zone, Daniel Zorita stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Cristian Nicolescu 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. Cristian Nicolescu made a fantastic save in the 85th minute, when Cristian Sancho sent off a good shot on target. Julio Vera took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Petre Maghiran, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. 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.