Challenge

Estadio Olímpico
Spectators: 45 (Terracing: 35, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Manole Frunză got the match started through his kick off. Cristian Sancho could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 9th minute of the match, but Victor Negara made a huge save. When Manole Frunză came up free with the goalie in the 11th minute, the Rovine Craiova 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 Manole Frunză couldn't finish the play. The audience thought a goal was coming when Daniel Zorita got free with Victor Negara in the 14th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. 15 minutes into the match, Ecuador's goal looked a bit too open when Jyrki Saarelainen came free, but Julio Vera reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Julio Vera showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Manole Frunză in the 21st minute of the match. In the 27th minute of the match Rovine Craiova 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. Alexandru Tudorică ran over to the corner to take the kick. Kacper Štilić made a great header on Rovine Craiova's corner, it was just that Ecuador's Julio Vera managed to reach the ball for a save. An unexpectedly hard shot by Manole Frunză in the 28th minute of play forced Ecuador's goalkeeper Julio Vera to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. An unexpectedly hard shot by Manole Frunză in the 29th minute of play forced Ecuador's goalkeeper Julio Vera to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. If Jyrki Saarelainen had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 32nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 35th minute, Manole Frunză 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 0-1. After a rather tough play, Rovine Craiova's Jyrki Saarelainen got a free kick in the 38th minute. Ecuador's Cristian Sancho got a good chance for a goal in the 39th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. After the first half Rovine Craiova were leading 0-1. They had played with great self confidence throughout the first half and fully deserved their lead.

In the 51st match minute, Rovine Craiova was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Manole Frunză to maneuver through the defense. Julio Vera made an important save on a dangerous shot by Manole Frunză in the 53rd minute. Julio Vera stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Manole Frunză's shot from short distance in the 55th minute. An unexpectedly hard shot by Daniel Zorita in the 56th minute of play forced Rovine Craiova's goalkeeper Victor Negara to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 59th minute Ecuador were awarded a corner. Daniel Zorita went to the cornerflag to take it. Daniel Zorita blasted a shot towards the goal in the 63rd minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Victor Negara having to make a save. Victor Negara took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Daniel Zorita, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. The audience was convinced that Manole Frunză's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Julio Vera was relentless in the 68th minute of the game. Julio Vera showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Manole Frunză in the 78th minute of the match. In the last second Julio Vera throw himself and got hold of the ball when Manole Frunză in the 84thth minute from his position got away a shot towards the right post. Victor Negara made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Cristian Sancho in the 85th minute of play. In the 92nd minute, Nicolae Negrilă hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. 96 minutes into the match, Ecuador's goal looked a bit too open when Alexandru Tudorică came free, but Julio Vera reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. The second half was just like the first, even and exciting. The match ended in a draw.