Challenge

Estadio Olímpico
Spectators: 44 (Terracing: 34, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Daniel Zorita took the kick off in the first half of the match. The crowd rose to their feet as Daniel Zorita kicked a wonderful shot that went in to the left of a diving Wilfredo Rodriguez. That made the score 1-0 in the 5 minute of play. Cristian Sancho could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 8th minute of the match, but Wilfredo Rodriguez made a huge save. Cristian Sancho fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 10th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Wilfredo Rodriguez having to interfere. Wilfredo Rodriguez made a fantastic save in the 12th minute, when Daniel Zorita sent off a good shot on target. An unexpected shot in the 13th minute by Cristian Sancho got the crowd on their feet, but to their dismay it went out on the left side. Nilmar Vargas hit a great freekick 14 minutes into the match. Daniel Zorita came free with the goalkeeper in the 16th minute of the match, and shot straight on target. The shot was a little too simple and Wilfredo Rodriguez could save by the left post. After 17 played minutes Pindobassu EC got a freekick which was hit by Leonardo Esteves. In the 18th minute of the match, Cristian Sancho got a very nice opportunity to score, but Wilfredo Rodriguez was well-placed and pushed the ball away from the goal at the left post. In the 19th minute of the match Ecuador got a corner. Pindobassu EC's goalie ran out to the linesman to protest the call, but the linesman resolutely pointed his flag at the cornerflag. Daniel Zorita ran over to the corner to take the kick. Daniel Zorita sent away a hard shot on goal in the 20th minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. Wilfredo Rodriguez made an important save on a dangerous shot by Daniel Zorita in the 23rd minute. 24 minutes into the match, Ecuador's Daniel Zorita sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Wilfredo Rodriguez narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Agustín Saelices might have been able to make a better finish in the 28th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Wilfredo Rodriguez. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Agustín Saelices ran back to his position shaking his head. In the 29th match minute, Pindobassu EC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Gilberto Cordeiro to maneuver through the defense. Mário Azevedo hit a great freekick 35 minutes into the match. If Daniel Zorita had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 36th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. Azmi Kamuran charged in rather forcefully in the 37th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Azmi Kamuran the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. In the 38th minute, Luis Andino left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The Ecuador fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 3-0. Julio Vera stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Jeff Beck's shot from short distance in the 43rd minute. Cristian Sancho sent away a hard shot on goal in the 46th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. No-one was surprised that the home team were leading 3-0 at half-time.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Jeff Beck was the one to do the kick off. Cristian Sancho struck a weak shot in the 50th minute. Wilfredo Rodriguez didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Ecuador. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Cristian Sancho in the 53rd minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Wilfredo Rodriguez prevented the ball from getting in the gole. Wilfredo Rodriguez made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Daniel Zorita in the 56th minute of play. In the 57th minute Cristian Sancho shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Wilfredo Rodriguez saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. 58 minutes into the match, Daniel Zorita had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Wilfredo Rodriguez. Pindobassu EC's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Daniel Zorita was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 4-0. In the 63rd match minute, Pindobassu EC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Leonardo Esteves to maneuver through the defense. Wilfredo Rodriguez made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Daniel Zorita in the 63rd minute of play. 67 minutes into the game, Pindobassu EC's Jeff Beck 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, 4-1. Pindobassu EC made a substitution. Geovânio Veiga replaced Gilberto Cordeiro. Leonardo Esteves kicked well hit freekick during the 71st minute of the match. Wilfredo Rodriguez 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 74th minute. The supporters of Pindobassu EC booed when Ecuador was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 76 match minutes in a wonderful position. Antonio Arias didn't get a good kick on the ball. Nilmar Vargas took a chance and fired a shot far from the goal in the 77th minute, but it turned out to be a dangerous situation for Julio Vera. Ecuador's goalkeeper really had to stretch himself to stop the ball from crossing the goal line. Wilfredo Rodriguez made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Agustín Saelices in the 81st minute of play. Juan Sebastián Puig hit a great freekick 82 minutes into the match. After a good free kick, Juan Sebastián Puig got an opportunity to smash the ball into the goal, but unfortunately, the ball went just outside the goal, which resulted in a goal kick for Pindobassu EC. After some careless play in the Pindobassu EC defense, Cristian Sancho kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Wilfredo Rodriguez. The Pindobassu EC fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Wilfredo Rodriguez should have stopped the shot. In the 87th of the match, Geovânio Veiga tried to place the ball in the upper right corner, but Julio Vera got in the way and made a wonderful save. Wilfredo Rodriguez showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Cristian Sancho in the 90th minute of the match. There was no doubt that Ecuador were the better team. Ecuador's players enjoyed the ovations of the crowd after the victory.