Old Trafford
Spectators: 50 (Terracing: 38,
Seating: 11, VIP seats: 1) Manchester United FC's Valdemar Kuoppala 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 9th minute, Daniel Zorita made a precise shot to the right of Edwin van der Sar. Manchester United FC's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 0-1. In the 13th minute Daniel Zorita shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Edwin van der Sar saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Edwin van der Sar showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Daniel Zorita, who was totally free with the ball in the 16th minute. The corner led Ecuador's Agustín Saelices to fire away a dangerous shot which Edwin van der Sar despite some difficulties managed to get hold on the ball. Ecuador's Julio Vera proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 19th minute of the match, managed to save Ecuador from getting a goal against them. After having played for 22 minutes, Alfred Laulaja managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Manchester United FC's supporters crossed their fingers, but Alfred Laulaja was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Edwin van der Sar 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 Daniel Zorita had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 31st minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Julio Vera showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Taisto Pentsinen, who was totally free with the ball in the 33rd minute. 33 minutes into the game, Manchester United FC's Taisto Pentsinen nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Julio Vera made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 1-1. Valdemar Kuoppala could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 46th minute of the match, but Julio Vera made a huge save. Luck had favoured the away team in the first, and they walked off with a 1-2 lead.
When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Daniel Zorita made a kick off. The audience thought a goal was coming when Felix Montenegro got free with Edwin van der Sar in the 53rd minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Ecuador were awarded a corner in the 54th minute after Manchester United FC's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Daniel Zorita took the corner. The corner led Ecuador's Daniel Zorita to fire away a dangerous shot which Edwin van der Sar despite some difficulties managed to get hold on the ball. In the 55th match minute, Manchester United FC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Rio Ferdinand to maneuver through the defense. Julio Vera made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Eero Uusipaavalniemi in the 59th minute of play. After 59 minutes of play, Manchester United FC's Eero Uusipaavalniemi made it 2-2 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Julio Vera was left in no man's land by his defense there! In the 62nd match minute, Manchester United FC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Alfred Laulaja to maneuver through the defense. Edwin van der Sar made a fantastic save in the 64th minute, when Agustín Saelices sent off a good shot on target. In the 64th minute, Agustín Saelices ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Edwin van der Sar was frozen by the shot and now it was 2-3. Agustín Saelices kicked well hit freekick during the 66th minute of the match. Julio Vera showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Eero Uusipaavalniemi in the 68th minute of the match. In the 70th minute Valdemar Kuoppala 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. Valdemar Kuoppala received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 71st minute. Julio Vera tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. If Daniel Zorita had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 73rd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Julio Vera made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Valdemar Kuoppala in the 76th minute of play. An unexpectedly hard shot by Valdemar Kuoppala in the 76th minute of play forced Ecuador's goalkeeper Julio Vera to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. The Manchester United FC fans' excitement grew in the 77th match minute when Manchester United FC's Valdemar Kuoppala looked to have a clear shot with the ball near the goal. The shot wasn't hard, but the ball still rolled over the goal line to make it 3-3 before the goalkeeper had a chance to intervene. In the 81st minute of the match Manchester United FC 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. Eero Uusipaavalniemi ran over to the corner to take the kick. 82 minutes into the game, Valdemar Kuoppala cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 4-3. Julio Vera was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. 86 minutes into the match, Manchester United FC's Taisto Pentsinen sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Julio Vera narrowly saved just below the crossbar. In the 88th minute Valdemar Kuoppala 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. 90 minutes into the game, Juan Sebastián Puig was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Ecuador's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Manchester United FC the free kick. The supporters of Manchester United FC booed when Ecuador was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 90 match minutes in a wonderful position. Juan Sebastián Puig didn't get a good kick on the ball. After a defensive mix-up in Ecuador's zone, Valdemar Kuoppala stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Julio Vera came out of the goal and Valdemar Kuoppala tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. The supporters of Manchester United FC booed when Ecuador was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 96 match minutes in a wonderful position. Cristian Sancho didn't get a good kick on the ball. 97 minutes into the match, Valdemar Kuoppala notched a goal, 5-3, 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. Ecuador's players left the field with heads hung low after losing a match that had been finely balanced throughout.
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