Challenge

Pineta Salvo Maltese
Spectators: 41 (Terracing: 32, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) Corrado Del Duca charged in rather forcefully in the 5th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Corrado Del Duca the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. After a rather tough play, ALBEMA F.C.'s Corrado Del Duca got a free kick in the 5th minute. Daniel Zorita received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 6th minute. Biagio Minati tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. In the 7th minute, Felix Montes hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. In the 10th minute the ball was on its way in behind Ecuador's goalkeeper Julio Vera, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. The nice shot from Arturo Romano in the 14thth minute just in front of the goal should have ended in point on the board, but Julio Vera had a great feel for the game and superbly saved the ball from getting in by the left post. Biagio Minati made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Daniel Zorita in the 20th minute of play. After some fancy dribbling in the 24th minute, Beppe Muzzolon managed to get in a good position for a shot. ALBEMA F.C.'s supporters rose to their feet, but Beppe Muzzolon was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Julio Vera breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. When Ecuador's Daniel Zorita in the 26th minute got a chance for a shot 26th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye ALBEMA F.C.'s goalie prevented a goal. Julio Vera made a fantastic save in the 29th minute, when Beppe Muzzolon sent off a good shot on target. An unexpectedly hard shot by Felix Montenegro in the 37th minute of play forced ALBEMA F.C.'s goalkeeper Biagio Minati to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. The audience thought a goal was coming when Arturo Romano got free with Julio Vera in the 38th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. 41 minutes into the match, ALBEMA F.C.'s goal looked a bit too open when Cristian Sancho came free, but Biagio Minati reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. When Daniel Zorita came up free with the goalie in the 44th 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 Daniel Zorita couldn't finish the play. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Daniel Zorita in the 46th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Biagio Minati prevented the ball from getting in the gole. Hans Hersig sent away a hard shot on goal in the 48th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After the first half the score was level. The break gave the players a chance to catch their breath, whilst the managers went over the tactics with them again.

Daniel Zorita might have been able to make a better finish in the 53rd minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Biagio Minati. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Daniel Zorita ran back to his position shaking his head. The supporters of Ecuador booed when ALBEMA F.C. was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 56 match minutes in a wonderful position. Beppe Muzzolon didn't get a good kick on the ball. Luis Andino kicked well hit freekick during the 57th minute of the match. Julio Vera made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Hans Hersig in the 60th minute of play. Beppe Muzzolon made a great header on ALBEMA F.C.'s corner, it was just that Ecuador's Julio Vera managed to reach the ball for a save. An unexpectedly hard shot by Hans Hersig in the 65th minute of play forced Ecuador's goalkeeper Julio Vera to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. After 66 played minutes Ecuador got a freekick which was hit by Daniel Zorita. A collision led to Ecuador getting a freekick after 72 minutes play. Daniel Zorita hit a great ball. After a defensive mix-up in Ecuador's zone, Arturo Romano stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Julio Vera came out of the goal and Arturo Romano tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. In the 75th minute the ball was on its way in behind ALBEMA F.C.'s goalkeeper Biagio Minati, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. When Daniel Zorita came up free with the goalie in the 76th 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 Daniel Zorita couldn't finish the play. Federico Sartori'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 81st minute of play. In the 83rd minute, Hans Hersig 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 1-0. When Arturo Romano came up free with the goalie in the 85th minute, the ALBEMA F.C. 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 Arturo Romano couldn't finish the play. An unexpectedly hard shot by Hans Hersig in the 88th minute of play forced Ecuador's goalkeeper Julio Vera to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Corrado Del Duca was shown his second yellow card after 89 minutes, following a rather ugly tackle on opponent. That was the end of his participation in the match. Daniel Zorita's shot when he came free in front of the goal in the 92ndth minute, Biagio Minati skillfully showed off with a save to what seemed to be an obvious goal. Hans Hersig kicked well hit freekick during the 94th minute of the match. In the 95th minute Cristian Sancho shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Biagio Minati saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Ecuador's supporters were dissatisfied at the end of the match because ALBEMA F.C. had won, even though Ecuador had held more of the ball.