Challenge

Arena da Baixada
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. In the 8th minute, Ecuador's Felix Montes seemed to kick out at an opponent. The referee saw this and, surprisingly, showed Felix Montes the red card, dismissing him from the pitch. The coaching staff of Ecuador protested bitterly, but the referee would have none of it, and Felix Montes had no choice but to slowly walk off the pitch. 14 minutes into the game, Valdemar de Amaral cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 2-0. Julio Vera was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. 18 minutes into the match, Ecuador's goal looked a bit too open when Téo Pires came free, but Julio Vera reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. 23 minutes into the game, Ecuador's Cristian Sancho nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Sylwester Zarobski made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 2-1. Julio Vera made a fantastic save in the 26th minute, when Valdir Cavalcante sent off a good shot on target. In the 29th match minute, Ecuador was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Daniel Zorita to maneuver through the defense. An unexpectedly hard shot by Valdemar de Amaral in the 30th minute of play forced Ecuador's goalkeeper Julio Vera to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. After a rather tough play, Grêmio 20 Julho's Gilmar Romero got a free kick in the 34th minute. 37 minutes into the match, Ecuador's Luis Andino sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Sylwester Zarobski narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Daniel Zorita hit a great freekick 38 minutes into the match. Tiaguinho Saldanha received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 41st 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 43rd minute of the match, managed to save Ecuador from getting a goal against them. All the noise was coming from the home fans when the whistle went for half-time. The home team had fought hardest to put themselves in a deserved lead.

In the 56th match minute, Grêmio 20 Julho was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Téo Pires to maneuver through the defense. Grêmio 20 Julho's Jânio Pires was substituted for Tiaguinho Saldanha. If Felix Montenegro had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 61st minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. The crowd rose to their feet as Luis Andino kicked a wonderful shot that went in to the left of a diving Sylwester Zarobski. That made the score 2-2 in the 70 minute of play. Julio Vera showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Valdir Cavalcante, who was totally free with the ball in the 74th minute. After a rather tough play, Ecuador's Camilo Gisbert got a free kick in the 75th minute. If Valdemar de Amaral had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 77th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. The referee blew the whistle for a penalty in the 85th minute of the game. One of Ecuador:s players had nearly got his shirt torn off by an opponent while getting free in front of Grêmio 20 Julho:s goal. Julio Vera had in the 86thth minute some difficulties stopping Valdir Cavalcante's well aimed penalty as it nearly passed him on his left side, but he still managed to hold the ball. Camilo Gisbert hit a great freekick 87 minutes into the match. Valdir Cavalcante's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Julio Vera read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 94th minute of play. The Grêmio 20 Julho support was delighted with a win in a match that could easily have ended differently.