Challenge

Arnulfo Iraido
Spectators: 44 (Terracing: 34, 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. Hernan Socorro started the match with the kick off. An unexpectedly hard shot by Cristian Sancho in the 4th minute of play forced Barrialito AFC's goalkeeper Cristo Elivareo to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Cristian Sancho took the ball and in the 6 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Cristo Elivareo. Cristo Elivareo dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 0-1. Daniel Zorita received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 12th minute. Cristo Elivareo tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. 14 minutes into the match, Barrialito AFC's goal looked a bit too open when Daniel Zorita came free, but Cristo Elivareo reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. 16 minutes had been played when some careless play by Barrialito AFC's defense caused the ball to cross the line for a corner. Daniel Zorita was slow to take the kick. During this time Ecuador's players had a chance to rest. When Julian Torres fell near the penalty area in the 18th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Barrialito AFC's protests and gave Julian Torres a yellow card for diving instead. In the 18th minute, Julian Torres hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Hernan Socorro in the 21st 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. When Ecuador's Daniel Zorita in the 23rd minute got a chance for a shot 23rd didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Barrialito AFC's goalie prevented a goal. Barrialito AFC's Cristo Elivareo played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Daniel Zorita in the 26th minute of play. Daniel Zorita struck a weak shot in the 32nd minute. Cristo Elivareo didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Ecuador. Teodosio Txema kicked well hit freekick during the 33rd minute of the match. Julio Vera took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Hernan Socorro, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. The supporters of Barrialito AFC booed when Ecuador was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 40 match minutes in a wonderful position. Felix Montes didn't get a good kick on the ball. Barrialito AFC's Jaime Celio shoveled away a really nice long shot in the 41st minute of play. The shot was stopped by Julio Vera but with some difficulty. Barrialito AFC's Cristo Elivareo played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Daniel Zorita in the 44th minute of play. Daniel Zorita took the ball and in the 46 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Cristo Elivareo. Cristo Elivareo dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 0-2. The Barrialito AFC players were disheartened as they walked off the pitch after the first half. Ecuador were winning 0-2.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Daniel Zorita was the one to do the kick off. After a rather tough play, Ecuador's Juan Sebastián Puig got a free kick in the 54th minute. The audience thought a goal was coming when Daniel Zorita got free with Cristo Elivareo in the 63rd minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. After 64 played minutes Barrialito AFC got a freekick which was hit by Efrain Blai. If Daniel Zorita had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 65th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. Cristo Elivareo showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Cristian Sancho, who was totally free with the ball in the 72nd minute. An unexpectedly hard shot by Cristian Sancho in the 74th minute of play forced Barrialito AFC's goalkeeper Cristo Elivareo to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Julio Vera showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Hernan Socorro, who was totally free with the ball in the 77th minute. Lucas Brais hit a great freekick 78 minutes into the match. After some fancy dribbling in the 79th minute, Daniel Zorita managed to get in a good position for a shot. Ecuador's supporters rose to their feet, but Daniel Zorita was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Cristo Elivareo breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Cristo Elivareo made an important save on a dangerous shot by Cristian Sancho in the 82nd minute. 84 minutes into the match, Barrialito AFC's goal looked a bit too open when Agustín Saelices came free, but Cristo Elivareo reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Cristo Elivareo was a little too slow when Daniel Zorita got a fine hit on the ball which went right into the goal in the 85th minute. The score was now 0-3. When Felix Montenegro came up free with the goalie in the 88th minute, the Ecuador fans jumped to their feet. But the shot missed the goal by a fraction of an inch, and the fans sat back down disappointed that Felix Montenegro couldn't finish the play. With a little luck, Barrialito AFC's Cristo Elivareo got control of the ball when Daniel Zorita tried to sneak it across the goal line. Cristo Elivareo made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Cristian Sancho in the 95th minute of play. When the match was over Ecuador could go home with a victory in their luggage, having controlled the game far better than Barrialito AFC throughout the match.