Challenge

ESTADIO LA LIBERTAD
Spectators: 51 (Terracing: 39, Seating: 11, VIP seats: 1) 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 5th minute, Cristian Sancho ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Ernesto Monge was frozen by the shot and now it was 0-1. Rodrigo Lobo'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 7th minute of play. Ernesto Monge took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Daniel Zorita, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. If Agustin Barrantes had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 14th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After a rather tough play, CS La Libertad's Tomasz Komanski got a free kick in the 16th minute. In the 21st minute Daniel Zorita shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Ernesto Monge saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. After a rather tough play, CS La Libertad's Miguel Volio got a free kick in the 25th minute. Mainor Coronado charged in rather forcefully in the 26th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Mainor Coronado the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. After 26 played minutes CS La Libertad got a freekick which was hit by Mainor Coronado. 27 minutes into the game, Ecuador's Daniel Zorita nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Ernesto Monge made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 0-2. Ernesto Monge made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Daniel Zorita in the 33rd minute of play. Rodrigo Lobo could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 36th minute of the match, but Julio Vera made a huge save. With a little luck, Ecuador's Julio Vera got control of the ball when Agustin Barrantes tried to sneak it across the goal line. Tomasz Komanski hit a great freekick 45 minutes into the match. In the 45th minute of the match Daniel Zorita sent off a long shot with destination to the right of the goalkeeper, but Ernesto Monge skillfully saved the ball. Julio Vera made an important save on a dangerous shot by Agustin Barrantes in the 48th minute. After the first half Ecuador were leading 0-2. They had played with great self confidence throughout the first half and fully deserved their lead.

The wind increased when Agustin Barrantes made the kick off in the second half. A collision led to Ecuador getting a freekick after 52 minutes play. Daniel Zorita hit a great ball. Julio Vera made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Miguel Volio in the 55th minute of play. When the match clock showed 57 minutes, the score became 1-2 when Agustin Barrantes sped through Ecuador's defense and sent away a curving shot that went into the net to the right of Julio Vera. Tomasz Komanski received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 61st 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 played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Miguel Volio in the 63rd minute of play. In the 64th minute CS La Libertad were awarded a corner. Mainor Coronado went to the cornerflag to take it. A nice corner shot did that Agustin Barrantes got away a dangerous shot. Despite this Julio Vera quite easily got ahold of the ball to make the save. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Miguel Volio in the 67th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Julio Vera saved Ecuador from getting behind. An unexpectedly hard shot by Gerardo Millot in the 69th minute of play forced Ecuador's goalkeeper Julio Vera to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Ernesto Monge made an important save on a dangerous shot by Daniel Zorita in the 73rd minute. When Luis Marin fell near the penalty area in the 76th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored CS La Libertad's protests and gave Luis Marin a yellow card for diving instead. In the 76th minute, Luis Marin hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. The audience was convinced that Agustin Barrantes's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Julio Vera was relentless in the 80th minute of the game. Daniel Zorita struck a weak shot in the 82nd minute. Ernesto Monge didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Ecuador. After a rather tough play, Ecuador's Antonio Arias got a free kick in the 86th minute. Julio Vera showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Miguel Volio, who was totally free with the ball in the 87th minute. The corner ended in Agustin Barrantes almost managing to get the ball behind the net, but Ecuador's Julio Vera did a great save. A collision led to CS La Libertad getting a freekick after 90 minutes play. Miguel Volio hit a great ball. Felix Montenegro sent away a hard shot on goal in the 93rd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. The audience thought a goal was coming when Agustín Saelices got free with Ernesto Monge in the 95th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Ecuador played a much better game than CS La Libertad and deserved their victory. The CS La Libertad players were clearly disappointed as they left the ground.