Challenge

Phoenix Field
Spectators: 40 (Terracing: 31, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) Traian Moldovan made the kick off and thus started the match. Cristian Sancho sent away a hard shot on goal in the 5th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. When Olimpiu Mustea came up free with the goalie in the 8th minute, the Phoenix Strikers 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 Olimpiu Mustea couldn't finish the play. Ecuador's Daniel Zorita got a good chance for a goal in the 10th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Cristian Sancho received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 14th minute. Ionel Panaitoiu tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. The supporters of Phoenix Strikers booed when Ecuador was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 21 match minutes in a wonderful position. Juan Sebastián Puig didn't get a good kick on the ball. In the 23rd minute, Cristian Sancho ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Ionel Panaitoiu was frozen by the shot and now it was 0-1. After a defensive mix-up in Ecuador's zone, Olimpiu Mustea stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Julio Vera came out of the goal and Olimpiu Mustea tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Julio Vera made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Traian Moldovan in the 34th minute of play. After 35th play minutes Daniel Zorita shot 0-3, a short shot which went by Ionel Panaitoiu and just under the crossbar into goal. After having played for 42 minutes, Ovidiu Popescu managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Phoenix Strikers's supporters crossed their fingers, but Ovidiu Popescu was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Ovidiu Popescu kicked well hit freekick during the 44th minute of the match. In the 45th minute, Luis Andino 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. The crowd was extremely unhappy with the home team's performance in the first half. They were losing 0-3.

Julio Vera stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Olimpiu Mustea's shot from short distance in the 53rd minute. An unexpectedly hard shot by Traian Moldovan in the 58th minute of play forced Ecuador's goalkeeper Julio Vera to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Ionel Panaitoiu showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Cristian Sancho in the 61st minute of the match. After a rather tough play, Ecuador's Camilo Gisbert got a free kick in the 65th minute. Phoenix Strikers's Horaţiu Dinulescu was substituted for Mauricio Quentin. Camilo Gisbert kicked well hit freekick during the 66th minute of the match. Traian Moldovan struck a weak shot in the 67th minute. Julio Vera didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Phoenix Strikers. In the 70th minute, Olimpiu Mustea hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Phoenix Strikers made a substitution. Pavel Haaland replaced Ivan Galtero. In the 72nd minute, Olimpiu Mustea hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. 75 minutes into the match, Ecuador's goal looked a bit too open when Olimpiu Mustea came free, but Julio Vera reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. The audience thought a goal was coming when Felix Montenegro got free with Ionel Panaitoiu in the 77th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. In the 78th minute Ecuador were awarded a corner. Daniel Zorita went to the cornerflag to take it. After taking down the ball on Ecuador's corner Luis Andino fired away a hard shot, but the defenders efficiently covered the most dangerous angles and Ionel Panaitoiu quite easily take care of the ball. In the 81st minute of the match, Daniel Zorita got a very nice opportunity to score, but Ionel Panaitoiu was well-placed and pushed the ball away from the goal at the left post. Ionel Panaitoiu 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 0-4 in the 81 minute of play. Cristian Sancho fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 84th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Ionel Panaitoiu having to interfere. Daniel Zorita succeeded to score despite a near miss that spronge from right pole into the goal to 0-5 in the 86th playminute. Phoenix Strikers's Ovidiu Popescu got a good chance for a goal in the 91st minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Julio Vera took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Pavel Haaland, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side.