Challenge

Estadio Olímpico
Spectators: 45 (Terracing: 35, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) ᗩɦmeɗo ᎥᏦᎥ Göȥüm's Zhou Xiang Li 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. If Cristian Sancho had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 7th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Zhou Xiang Li in the 15th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Julio Vera prevented the ball from getting in the gole. After a defensive mix-up in ᗩɦmeɗo ᎥᏦᎥ Göȥüm's zone, Cristian Sancho stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. René Higuita came out of the goal and Cristian Sancho tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. If Daniel Zorita had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 17th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 24th minute, Daniel Zorita reached a very good position and smashed the ball with a huge effort into the net, just to the left of René Higuita. The goal made the score 1-0. Agustín Saelices struck a weak shot in the 27th minute. René Higuita didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Ecuador. After 33 minutes of play, ᗩɦmeɗo ᎥᏦᎥ Göȥüm's Zhou Xiang Li made it 1-1 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! When ᗩɦmeɗo ᎥᏦᎥ Göȥüm's Thoralf Banke in the 36th minute got a chance for a shot 36th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Ecuador's goalie prevented a goal. René Higuita made an important save on a dangerous shot by Daniel Zorita in the 41st minute. 43 minutes into the match, Ecuador's goal looked a bit too open when Thoralf Banke came free, but Julio Vera reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 45th minute Thoralf Banke 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. Julio Vera took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Zhou Xiang Li, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. The fans had the chance to grab some refreshments as the whistle went for half-time. The score stood at 1-1 after a close first half.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Daniel Zorita made a kick off. 52 minutes into the game, Felix Montes was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Ecuador's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave ᗩɦmeɗo ᎥᏦᎥ Göȥüm the free kick. After 52 played minutes Ecuador got a freekick which was hit by Felix Montes. 54 minutes into the match, ᗩɦmeɗo ᎥᏦᎥ Göȥüm's goal looked a bit too open when Daniel Zorita came free, but René Higuita reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 55th minute of the match Ecuador got a corner. ᗩɦmeɗo ᎥᏦᎥ Göȥüm's goalie ran out to the linesman to protest the call, but the linesman resolutely pointed his flag at the cornerflag. Daniel Zorita ran over to the corner to take the kick. After taking down the ball on Ecuador's corner Daniel Zorita fired away a hard shot, but the defenders efficiently covered the most dangerous angles and René Higuita quite easily take care of the ball. Julio Vera was out of position in the 57 minute of play, and Thoralf Banke capitalized on the mistake with a soft shot into the goal. Thoralf Banke really showed his touch with that goal: 1-2. In the 65th 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. 68 minutes into the game, Thoralf Banke recieved a splendid long ball, split the defenders, and gently placed the ball to the left of Julio Vera. Thoralf Banke showed that you don't have to tear a hole in the net to score, 1-3. ᗩɦmeɗo ᎥᏦᎥ Göȥüm's René Higuita played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Cristian Sancho in the 72nd minute of play. An unexpectedly hard shot by Zhou Xiang Li in the 76th minute of play forced Ecuador's goalkeeper Julio Vera to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. The audience thought a goal was coming when Zhou Xiang Li got free with Julio Vera in the 80th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. René Higuita took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Daniel Zorita, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. René Higuita made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Daniel Zorita in the 86th 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 Thoralf Banke in the 88th minute of play. 91 minutes into the game, Angelo Hamberger was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. ᗩɦmeɗo ᎥᏦᎥ Göȥüm's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Ecuador the free kick. In the 91st match minute, ᗩɦmeɗo ᎥᏦᎥ Göȥüm was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Angelo Hamberger to maneuver through the defense. The Ecuador manager could be seen shouting at his players as they walked down the tunnel after the match. He was clearly angry that they had squandered their superior possession, allowing ᗩɦmeɗo ᎥᏦᎥ Göȥüm to win.