Challenge

Qemal Stafa
Spectators: 41 (Terracing: 32, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when Cristoforo De Luca kicked off to start the match. Branden Shelton made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Daniel Zorita in the 3rd minute of play. After 4 minutes K.F TIRANA's defender was forced to head the ball over the line for a corner. It was Daniel Zorita who took care of the corner kick. Coronel Durango hit a great freekick 6 minutes into the match. Branden Shelton showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Luis Andino, who was totally free with the ball in the 7th minute. In the 9th minute, Mao Zhen Xing hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. If Cristian Sancho had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 11th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. The supporters of Ecuador booed when K.F TIRANA was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 13 match minutes in a wonderful position. Paco Cano didn't get a good kick on the ball. Cristian Sancho sent away a hard shot on goal in the 14th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. A collision led to Ecuador getting a freekick after 23 minutes play. Camilo Gisbert hit a great ball. Cristian Sancho fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 26th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Branden Shelton having to interfere. When Nevjon Rexhepi fell near the penalty area in the 28th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored K.F TIRANA's protests and gave Nevjon Rexhepi a yellow card for diving instead. Nevjon Rexhepi hit a great freekick 28 minutes into the match. 31 minutes into the match, Cristian Sancho had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Branden Shelton. K.F TIRANA's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Cristian Sancho was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 0-1. K.F TIRANA's Branden Shelton played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Daniel Zorita in the 36th minute of play. K.F TIRANA's Branden Shelton played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Felix Montenegro in the 40th minute of play. Branden Shelton showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Daniel Zorita, who was totally free with the ball in the 44th minute. After the first half Ecuador were leading 0-2. They had played with great self confidence throughout the first half and fully deserved their lead.

The wind increased when Daniel Zorita made the kick off in the second half. Ecuador were awarded a corner in the 55th minute after K.F TIRANA's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Daniel Zorita took the corner. After taking down the ball on Ecuador's corner Daniel Zorita fired away a hard shot, but the defenders efficiently covered the most dangerous angles and Branden Shelton quite easily take care of the ball. After having played for 58 minutes, Cristian Sancho managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Ecuador's supporters crossed their fingers, but Cristian Sancho was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Julio Vera stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Cristoforo De Luca's shot from short distance in the 59th minute. Daniel Zorita's shot straight on target was not completely harmless. The ball had pretty good speed, but Branden Shelton firmly grabbed it by the left post. After a defensive mix-up in K.F TIRANA's zone, Cristian Sancho stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Branden Shelton came out of the goal and Cristian Sancho tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Antonio Arias kicked well hit freekick during the 64th minute of the match. After some fancy dribbling in the 68th minute, Daniel Zorita managed to get in a good position for a shot. Ecuador's supporters rose to their feet, but Daniel Zorita was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Branden Shelton breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Thanks to some nice moves Daniel Zorita could shoot a difficult shot in the 76th minute, which Branden Shelton however easily saved by the left post. If Daniel Zorita had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 80th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Branden Shelton showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Cristian Sancho in the 84th minute of the match. Cristian Sancho could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 86th minute of the match, but Branden Shelton made a huge save. In the 90th play minute Daniel Zorita came free and shot an unsuspected shot which went into goal from the right pole behind a surprised Branden Shelton. 0-4. When Daniel Zorita came up free with the goalie in the 93rd 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. Coronel Durango fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 95th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Julio Vera having to interfere.