Challenge

Escobedo Stadium
Spectators: 41 (Terracing: 32, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) The mood of the audience was pleasant when Daniel Zorita made the kick off which started today's match. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Steve Rogers during the 6th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. After a rather tough play, Santa Fe's Steve Rogers got a free kick in the 6th minute. Daniel Zorita recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 6th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. In the 12th minute, Romulo Lalla left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The Santa Fe fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 1-0. The audience was convinced that Romulo Lalla's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Julio Vera was relentless in the 15th minute of the game. In the 16th minute Daniel Zorita shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Shao Jing Yuan saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. 22 minutes had been played when some careless play by Santa Fe'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. Daniel Zorita made a great header on Ecuador's corner, it was just that Santa Fe's Shao Jing Yuan managed to reach the ball for a save. Santa Fe's attacker deliberately struck the ball against an opponent to win a corner for his team. The corner was taken by Steve Rogers in the 26th minute. The supporters of Ecuador booed when Santa Fe was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 30 match minutes in a wonderful position. Godofredo Rik didn't get a good kick on the ball. Julio Vera was out of position in the 34 minute of play, and Romulo Lalla capitalized on the mistake with a soft shot into the goal. Romulo Lalla really showed his touch with that goal: 2-0. In the 38th minute Ecuador were awarded a corner. Daniel Zorita went to the cornerflag to take it. A nice corner shot did that Felix Montes got away a dangerous shot. Despite this Shao Jing Yuan quite easily got ahold of the ball to make the save. 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 2-0.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Romulo Lalla was the one to do the kick off. Shao Jing Yuan made an important save on a dangerous shot by Cristian Sancho in the 54th minute. 56 minutes into the match, Santa Fe's goalkeeper Shao Jing Yuan had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Cristian Sancho. In the 61st minute Romulo Lalla 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. A collision led to Ecuador getting a freekick after 62 minutes play. Daniel Zorita hit a great ball. Julio Vera showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Romulo Lalla, who was totally free with the ball in the 64th minute. The supporters of Ecuador booed when Santa Fe was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 68 match minutes in a wonderful position. Steve Rogers didn't get a good kick on the ball. Daniel Zorita struck a weak shot in the 69th minute. Shao Jing Yuan didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Ecuador. In the 72nd play minute Daniel Zorita came free and shot an unsuspected shot which went into goal from the right pole behind a surprised Shao Jing Yuan. 2-2. Daniel Zorita's shot straight on target was not completely harmless. The ball had pretty good speed, but Shao Jing Yuan firmly grabbed it by the left post. After 79 minutes Santa Fe'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. It was a well-played corner which Felix Montes managed to volley towards the net. Unfortunately, he didn't get a great hit on the ball and it went out into the grandstand. An unexpectedly hard shot by Felix Montes in the 79th minute of play forced Santa Fe's goalkeeper Shao Jing Yuan to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Daniel Zorita sent away a hard shot on goal in the 81st minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Cristian Sancho blasted a shot towards the goal in the 82nd minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Shao Jing Yuan having to make a save. With a little luck, Santa Fe's Shao Jing Yuan got control of the ball when Cristian Sancho tried to sneak it across the goal line. Sandro Coisne hit a great freekick 83 minutes into the match. Daniel Zorita took a chance and fired a shot far from the goal in the 84th minute, but it turned out to be a dangerous situation for Shao Jing Yuan. Santa Fe's goalkeeper really had to stretch himself to stop the ball from crossing the goal line. In the 85th minute Romulo Lalla 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. Daniel Zorita recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 88th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. In the 92nd minute, Steve Rogers hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Agustín Saelices in the 95th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Shao Jing Yuan saved Santa Fe from getting behind. Daniel Zorita sent away a hard shot on goal in the 96th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Ecuador's supporters were dissatisfied at the end of the match because Santa Fe had won, even though Ecuador had held more of the ball.