Challenge

La Fortaleza
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. The supporters of Lanús booed when Ecuador was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 3 match minutes in a wonderful position. Camilo Gisbert didn't get a good kick on the ball. Roberto Puch recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 4th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. In the 5th minute Roberto Puch 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. 7 minutes into the match, Ecuador's goalkeeper Julio Vera had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Roberto Puch. 8 minutes had been played when some careless play by Ecuador's defense caused the ball to cross the line for a corner. Jake Hursey was slow to take the kick. During this time Lanús's players had a chance to rest. If Roberto Puch had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 11th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. In the 16th minute the ball was on its way in behind Ecuador's goalkeeper Julio Vera, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. Julio Vera was out of position in the 23 minute of play, and Roberto Puch capitalized on the mistake with a soft shot into the goal. Roberto Puch really showed his touch with that goal: 1-0. After 26 played minutes Lanús got a freekick which was hit by Jake Hursey. 28 minutes into the game, Ecuador's Daniel Zorita nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Manuel Neuer made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 1-1. Lanús's Jake Hursey was first on the ball when the corner was shot and he dangerously headed the ball towards goal, but Julio Vera in the goal jumped up to prevent it from getting in. After some fancy dribbling in the 35th minute, Roberto Puch managed to get in a good position for a shot. Lanús's supporters rose to their feet, but Roberto Puch was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Julio Vera breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Manuel Neuer took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Daniel Zorita, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Manuel Neuer made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Daniel Zorita in the 38th minute of play. After a defensive mix-up in Ecuador's zone, Roberto Puch stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Julio Vera came out of the goal and Roberto Puch tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Ladislao Barros kicked well hit freekick during the 41st minute of the match. In the 43rd minute, Camilo Gisbert hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. After some fancy dribbling in the 46th minute, Matt Le Tissier managed to get in a good position for a shot. Lanús's supporters rose to their feet, but Matt Le Tissier was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Julio Vera breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. 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.

Lanús's Arnaldo Mendebal was substituted for Esteve Herrera. The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Eloy Gaskon stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. Julio Vera didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Eloy Gaskon went, in the 55th minute, to the upper right corner, 2-1 was the resulting score. Lanús's Manuel Neuer proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 59th minute of the match, managed to save Lanús from getting a goal against them. Manuel Neuer made an important save on a dangerous shot by Felix Montenegro in the 61st minute. In the 62nd minute, Lanús's goalie took a deep sigh of relief after Cristian Sancho fired away a hard shot that went just outside the left post. If Cristian Sancho had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 65th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. Eloy Gaskon scored 3-1 in the 68th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Julio Vera, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. 76 minutes into the match, Lanús's Eloy Gaskon sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Julio Vera narrowly saved just below the crossbar. 79 minutes into the match, Eloy Gaskon notched a goal, 4-1, to the right of Ecuador's Julio Vera. Julio Vera was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. Daniel Zorita made a well adjusted shot against goal in the 86thth minute coming free in front of the goal, but Manuel Neuer would not let the ball come through at any expense and made a nice save by the left post. After 87 minutes Lanús's defender was forced to head the ball over the line for a corner. It was Daniel Zorita who took care of the corner kick. 94 minutes into the match, Lanús's goalkeeper Manuel Neuer had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Cristian Sancho.