Challenge

Estadio Olímpico
Spectators: 45 (Terracing: 35, Seating: 10, 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. Davide Conte made a fantastic save in the 4th minute, when Daniel Zorita sent off a good shot on target. Alex Marzulli hit a great freekick 7 minutes into the match. Davide Conte made an important save on a dangerous shot by Cristian Sancho in the 8th minute. Ecuador's Julio Vera played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Federico Di Iorio in the 9th minute of play. In the 10th minute, Ecuador's Daniel Zorita dribbled the ball into the box and hit a shot with the outside of his foot, sending the keeper the wrong way. 2-0. Alex Marzulli's late challenge caught a Ecuador's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Alex Marzulli helped the player get up and apologised. Alex Marzulli kicked well hit freekick during the 14th minute of the match. With a little luck, Alba FC's Davide Conte got control of the ball when Felix Montenegro tried to sneak it across the goal line. After 21 played minutes Alba FC got a freekick which was hit by Alex Marzulli. Cristian Sancho blasted a shot towards the goal in the 23rd minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Davide Conte having to make a save. 26 minutes into the game, Alba FC's Federico Di Iorio nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Julio Vera made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 2-1. Davide Conte made an important save on a dangerous shot by Cristian Sancho in the 29th minute. Julio Vera took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Federico Di Iorio, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 32nd minute Alba FC were awarded a corner. Ciro Cino went to the cornerflag to take it. Thanks to some nice moves Daniel Zorita could shoot a difficult shot in the 38th minute, which Davide Conte however easily saved by the left post. Andrea Banana charged in rather forcefully in the 39th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Andrea Banana the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. When the match had gone on for 40 minutes, Cristian Sancho took a quick shot and it went in 3-1 without a chance for Davide Conte to make any attempt to save it. When the referee blew for the end of the half the home team players were clearly happier, as they went in to the break leading 3-1.

In the 57th minute Luis Andino shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Davide Conte saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. After 59 played minutes Alba FC got a freekick which was hit by Antonio Di Donato. 62 minutes into the game, Alba FC's Ciro Cino nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Julio Vera made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 3-2. The audience was convinced that Daniel Zorita's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Davide Conte was relentless in the 69th minute of the game. Julio Vera took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Donato Amatori, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. The supporters of Alba FC booed when Ecuador was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 75 match minutes in a wonderful position. Agustín Saelices didn't get a good kick on the ball. 81 minutes into the match, Alba FC's goal looked a bit too open when Cristian Sancho came free, but Davide Conte reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. The audience was convinced that Donato Amatori's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Julio Vera was relentless in the 82nd minute of the game. In the 85th minute Daniel Zorita shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Davide Conte saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. After 90 minutes of play, Ecuador's Felix Montenegro made it 4-2 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Davide Conte was left in no man's land by his defense there! When the referee ended the match the Ecuador players were able to celebrate. They had won a fair victory and recieved the ovations of their fans.