Challenge

USA BORDERS
Spectators: 40 (Terracing: 31, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Ernest Spoelbergs started the match with the kick off. Bartosz Skikiewicz made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Cristian Sancho in the 4th minute of play. A nice corner shot did that Luis Andino got away a dangerous shot. Despite this Bartosz Skikiewicz quite easily got ahold of the ball to make the save. After 9 minutes of play, Ecuador's Cristian Sancho made it 0-1 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Bartosz Skikiewicz was left in no man's land by his defense there! In the 12th minute Daniel Zorita shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Bartosz Skikiewicz saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. If Cristian Sancho had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 17th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Bartosz Skikiewicz showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Daniel Zorita in the 18th minute of the match. After 19 minutes Bucaneiros'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. Daniel Zorita made a great header on Ecuador's corner, it was just that Bucaneiros's Bartosz Skikiewicz managed to reach the ball for a save. After some fancy dribbling in the 22nd minute, Ernest Spoelbergs managed to get in a good position for a shot. Bucaneiros's supporters rose to their feet, but Ernest Spoelbergs 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. Ecuador's Julio Vera proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 24th minute of the match, managed to save Ecuador from getting a goal against them. In the 29th minute, Cristian Sancho made a precise shot to the right of Bartosz Skikiewicz. Bucaneiros's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 0-2. Cristian Sancho blasted a shot towards the goal in the 35th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Bartosz Skikiewicz having to make a save. Ecuador's Julio Vera played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Mai Hontoria in the 36th minute of play. After having played for 40 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. Bucaneiros's Mai Hontoria got a good chance for a goal in the 44th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. In the 46thth minute of the game Mai Hontoria 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. The Bucaneiros players were disheartened as they walked off the pitch after the first half. Ecuador were winning 0-2.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Daniel Zorita to strike the kick off in the second half. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Mai Hontoria in the 54th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Julio Vera prevented the ball from getting in the gole. Laércio Travassos kicked well hit freekick during the 64th minute of the match. Bucaneiros's Matteo La Forest was substituted for Clodoaldo á Borg. After 65 played minutes Bucaneiros got a freekick which was hit by Laércio Travassos. Daniel Zorita could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 67th minute of the match, but Bartosz Skikiewicz made a huge save. In the 69th minute Ernest Spoelbergs 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. After 69 played minutes Ecuador got a freekick which was hit by Cristian Sancho. The supporters of Bucaneiros booed when Ecuador was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 71 match minutes in a wonderful position. Cristian Sancho didn't get a good kick on the ball. Julio Vera showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Mario Kempes, who was totally free with the ball in the 71st minute. In the 72nd minute, Cristian Sancho hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. 74 minutes into the match, Ecuador's goal looked a bit too open when Laércio Travassos came free, but Julio Vera reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. 74 minutes into the match, Laércio Travassos notched a goal, 1-2, to the right of Ecuador's Julio Vera. Julio Vera was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. Daniel Zorita sent away a hard shot on goal in the 79th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. A collision led to Ecuador getting a freekick after 81 minutes play. Cristian Sancho hit a great ball. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Ernest Spoelbergs in the 82nd managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Julio Vera saved Ecuador from getting behind. If Ernest Spoelbergs had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 87th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 90th minute, Ernest Spoelbergs 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 2-2. The audience was convinced that Ernest Spoelbergs's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Julio Vera was relentless in the 94th minute of the game. In the 96th minute, Mario Kempes hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Despite being the better team, Ecuador failed to find the winning goal and were forced to settle for a single point.