Challenge

ARENA DO GIOIA TAURO
Spectators: 40 (Terracing: 31, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) Gioiese Calcio's Söncke Gärtner played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Felix Montenegro in the 4th minute of play. Julio Vera made a fantastic save in the 5th minute, when Maarek Ratas sent off a good shot on target. Julio Vera stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Maarek Ratas's shot from short distance in the 7th minute. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Daniel Zorita in the 9th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Söncke Gärtner saved Gioiese Calcio from getting behind. 10 minutes into the game, Maarek Ratas lined in a short shot 1-0 behind a frustrated Julio Vera. 14 minutes into the match, Gioiese Calcio's goal looked a bit too open when Cristian Sancho came free, but Söncke Gärtner reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Lambis Goya hit a great freekick 16 minutes into the match. After 21 minutes of play, Ecuador's Daniel Zorita made it 1-2 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Söncke Gärtner was left in no man's land by his defense there! Gioiese Calcio's Söncke Gärtner played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Daniel Zorita in the 24th minute of play. 28 minutes into the game, Gioiese Calcio's Maarek Ratas 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, 2-2. If Daniel Zorita had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 34th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 38th minute Daniel Zorita shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Söncke Gärtner saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Abelardo Fonso during the 40th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. After 45 played minutes Ecuador got a freekick which was hit by Antonio Arias. The first half was very even, with the score at 2-2 when the whistle went for half-time. The players welcomed the break and quickly retired to the dressing rooms.

Gioiese Calcio were awarded a corner in the 53th minute after Ecuador's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Abelardo Fonso took the corner. After taking down the ball on Gioiese Calcio's corner Abelardo Fonso fired away a hard shot, but the defenders efficiently covered the most dangerous angles and Julio Vera quite easily take care of the ball. The crowd rose to their feet as Cristian Sancho kicked a wonderful shot that went in to the left of a diving Söncke Gärtner. That made the score 2-3 in the 56 minute of play. Kamer Hammer fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 66th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Julio Vera having to interfere. Daniel Zorita received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 68th minute. Söncke Gärtner tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Maarek Ratas in the 71st managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Julio Vera saved Ecuador from getting behind. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Kamer Hammer in the 74th 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 Cristian Sancho got free in front of the goal in the 75th minute he wasn't very focused and chipped the ball just over the goal. Söncke Gärtner was delighted since he was out of position and the ball would have got in if it had gone under the crossbar. Söncke Gärtner made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Daniel Zorita in the 79th minute of play. The audience was convinced that Maarek Ratas's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Julio Vera was relentless in the 83rd minute of the game. Daniel Zorita sent away a hard shot on goal in the 86th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. With his leg Söncke Gärtner managed to avoid a goal in the 91stth minute, when Ecuador's Daniel Zorita fired away a shot with a lot of spin towards his right hand side. Abelardo Fonso hit a great freekick 91 minutes into the match. Söncke Gärtner 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 96th minute. The Gioiese Calcio fans had already started to leave before the final whistle blew. Ecuador were clearly better and deserved to take the win.