Challenge

Arena Beira Mar
Spectators: 40 (Terracing: 31, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) The mood of the audience was pleasant when Igor Maranhense made the kick off which started today's match. If Tomas Gustavsson had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 2nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Tomas Gustavsson came free with the goalkeeper in the 4th minute of the match, and shot straight on target. The shot was a little too simple and Julio Vera could save by the left post. After 5 played minutes A.C.Mandala got a freekick which was hit by Tiago Tinoco. 9 minutes had been played when some careless play by A.C.Mandala's defense caused the ball to cross the line for a corner. Daniel Zorita was slow to take the kick. During this time Ecuador's players had a chance to rest. Su Xiang Chuan made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Daniel Zorita in the 10th minute of play. Ecuador were awarded a corner in the 11th minute after A.C.Mandala's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Daniel Zorita took the corner. Ecuador's Felix Montenegro was first on the ball when the corner was shot and he dangerously headed the ball towards goal, but Su Xiang Chuan in the goal jumped up to prevent it from getting in. In the 12th match minute, A.C.Mandala was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Mikkel Beck to maneuver through the defense. Luis Andino received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 14th minute. Su Xiang Chuan tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. In the 16th minute, Cristian Sancho 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: 0-1. Julio Vera made an important save on a dangerous shot by Cristian Marquez in the 23rd minute. Julio Vera showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Igor Maranhense in the 24th minute of the match. Cristian Sancho sent away a hard shot on goal in the 27th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Julio Vera made a fantastic save in the 32nd minute, when Tomas Gustavsson sent off a good shot on target. Julio Vera took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Igor Maranhense, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Julio Vera showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Igor Maranhense in the 38th minute of the match. In the 38thth minute of the game Igor Maranhense who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Ecuador's Julio Vera was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. Cristian Sancho sent away a hard shot on goal in the 42nd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After a defensive mix-up in A.C.Mandala's zone, Felix Montenegro stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Su Xiang Chuan came out of the goal and Felix Montenegro tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Disappointed in the 0-1 score, the home team went to the dressing room to adjust tactics for the second half.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Daniel Zorita made a kick off. Daniel Zorita received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 54th minute. Su Xiang Chuan tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. In the 56th minute Igor Maranhense 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. In the 58th minute of the match Daniel Zorita sent off a long shot with destination to the right of the goalkeeper, but Su Xiang Chuan skillfully saved the ball. After 59 played minutes Ecuador got a freekick which was hit by Cristian Sancho. 62 minutes into the game, A.C.Mandala's Igor Maranhense 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. After having played for 66 minutes, Agustín Saelices managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Ecuador's supporters crossed their fingers, but Agustín Saelices was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. In the 70th minute, Daniel Zorita ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Su Xiang Chuan was frozen by the shot and now it was 1-2. The supporters of Ecuador booed when A.C.Mandala was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 76 match minutes in a wonderful position. Köksal Üstay didn't get a good kick on the ball. With a little luck, A.C.Mandala's Su Xiang Chuan got control of the ball when Daniel Zorita tried to sneak it across the goal line. Tiago Tinoco made a great header on A.C.Mandala's corner, it was just that Ecuador's Julio Vera managed to reach the ball for a save. After a rather tough play, Ecuador's Agustín Saelices got a free kick in the 82nd minute. A collision led to Ecuador getting a freekick after 85 minutes play. Antonio Arias hit a great ball. Igor Maranhense recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 87th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Julio Vera stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Igor Maranhense's shot from short distance in the 91st minute. When the referee blew the final whistle, you could see the dissatisfaction in the Ecuador players' eyes. They were disappointed they hadn't taken more from the game.