Challenge

Centrs Annenieki
Spectators: 50 (Terracing: 38, Seating: 11, VIP seats: 1) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Artūrs Sagalats started the match with the kick off. Jāzeps Pics charged in rather forcefully in the 6th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Jāzeps Pics the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. In the 6th minute, Jāzeps Pics hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Julio Vera took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Indris Tomass, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. After 17 minutes of play, Ecuador's Luis Andino made it 0-1 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Jānis Lielais was left in no man's land by his defense there! 22 minutes into the match, Ecuador's Daniel Zorita sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Jānis Lielais narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Jānis Lielais 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 26th minute. 31 minutes into the match, SK Annenieki's goal looked a bit too open when Daniel Zorita came free, but Jānis Lielais reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. 31 minutes into the game, Daniel Zorita cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 0-2. Jānis Lielais was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. In the 34th match minute, Ecuador was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Cristian Sancho to maneuver through the defense. 35 minutes into the match, Ecuador's goalkeeper Julio Vera had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Indris Tomass. Jāzeps Pics'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 39th minute of play. In the 40th minute of the match SK Annenieki got a corner. Ecuador's goalie ran out to the linesman to protest the call, but the linesman resolutely pointed his flag at the cornerflag. Reinholds Jaunzems ran over to the corner to take the kick. SK Annenieki's Reinholds Jaunzems 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. In the 47th minute Daniel Zorita shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Jānis Lielais saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Even after changing tactics the home team jogged off the field with a 0-2 deficit. They would have to work harder if they wanted to turn things around in the second half.

The wind increased when Daniel Zorita made the kick off in the second half. 52 minutes into the game, Reinholds Jaunzems was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. SK Annenieki's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Ecuador the free kick. A collision led to SK Annenieki getting a freekick after 52 minutes play. Reinholds Jaunzems hit a great ball. Daniel Zorita took a chance and fired a shot far from the goal in the 53rd minute, but it turned out to be a dangerous situation for Jānis Lielais. SK Annenieki's goalkeeper really had to stretch himself to stop the ball from crossing the goal line. Reinholds Jaunzems sent away a hard shot on goal in the 57th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. A collision led to SK Annenieki getting a freekick after 58 minutes play. Renāts Skipors hit a great ball. SK Annenieki's Jānis Lielais proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 60th minute of the match, managed to save SK Annenieki from getting a goal against them. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Artūrs Sagalats in the 61st managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Julio Vera saved Ecuador from getting behind. In the 62nd minute, Reinholds Jaunzems ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Julio Vera was frozen by the shot and now it was 1-2. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Artūrs Sagalats in the 67th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Julio Vera saved Ecuador from getting behind. SK Annenieki made a substitution. Vilis Lettlands replaced Indris Tomass. Thanks to some nice moves Daniel Zorita could shoot a difficult shot in the 78th minute, which Jānis Lielais however easily saved by the left post. With a little luck, SK Annenieki's Jānis Lielais got control of the ball when Felix Montenegro tried to sneak it across the goal line. Julio Vera showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Artūrs Sagalats, who was totally free with the ball in the 87th minute. After a rather tough play, SK Annenieki's Reinholds Jaunzems got a free kick in the 95th minute. The away crowd were delighted with the way their team had played and cheered loudly when the final whistle sounded. Ecuador walked away with the win, even though the match was close until the end.