Challenge

Escobedo Stadium
Spectators: 41 (Terracing: 32, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) Santa Fe's Romulo Lalla started the match with a crisp pass. The crowd had been anticipating this game for weeks and the excitement in the stadium was easily visible. 6 minutes into the game, Steve Rogers was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Santa Fe's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Ecuador the free kick. Shao Jing Yuan made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Daniel Zorita in the 9th minute of play. Ecuador's Julio Vera proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 11th minute of the match, managed to save Ecuador from getting a goal against them. After 12 played minutes Santa Fe got a freekick which was hit by Eraldo Lalli. Gilberto Raymond kicked well hit freekick during the 20th minute of the match. 21 minutes in the game, Daniel Zorita dribbled his way through the penalty area and after maneuvering past an opponent, drilled a quick shot at the goal. The ball looked like it was going in, but it was hit a bit too hard and flew over the goal. Julio Vera stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Romulo Lalla's shot from short distance in the 22nd minute. Antonio Arias's late challenge caught a Santa Fe's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Antonio Arias helped the player get up and apologised. In the 39th minute Daniel Zorita shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Shao Jing Yuan saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. 40 minutes into the match, Cristian Sancho had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Shao Jing Yuan. Santa Fe's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Cristian Sancho was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 1-2. An unexpectedly hard shot by Romulo Lalla in the 47th minute of play forced Ecuador's goalkeeper Julio Vera to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. The Santa Fe players were disheartened as they walked off the pitch after the first half. Ecuador were winning 1-2.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Daniel Zorita to strike the kick off in the second half. Daniel Zorita fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 53rd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Shao Jing Yuan having to interfere. The supporters of Ecuador booed when Santa Fe was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 57 match minutes in a wonderful position. Eraldo Lalli didn't get a good kick on the ball. With a little luck, Santa Fe's Shao Jing Yuan got control of the ball when Cristian Sancho tried to sneak it across the goal line. In the 64th minute Daniel Zorita shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Shao Jing Yuan saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. After some fancy dribbling in the 66th minute, Felix Montenegro managed to get in a good position for a shot. Ecuador's supporters rose to their feet, but Felix Montenegro was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Shao Jing Yuan breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Cristian Sancho came free with the goalkeeper in the 68th minute of the match, and shot straight on target. The shot was a little too simple and Shao Jing Yuan could save by the left post. In the 69th minute Ecuador were awarded a corner. Daniel Zorita went to the cornerflag to take it. It was a well-played corner which Juan Sebastián Puig managed to volley towards the net. Unfortunately, he didn't get a great hit on the ball and it went out into the grandstand. The audience thought a goal was coming when Cristian Sancho got free with Shao Jing Yuan in the 71st minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Ecuador's Daniel Zorita got a good chance for a goal in the 74th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Daniel Zorita fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 76th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Shao Jing Yuan having to interfere. An unexpectedly hard shot by Cristian Sancho in the 80th minute of play forced Santa Fe's goalkeeper Shao Jing Yuan to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Julio Vera made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Juan Fernando Pratto in the 81st minute of play. Cristian Sancho sent away a hard shot on goal in the 92nd minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. In the 94th minute, Roque Roso got an opportunity to score, but he didn't get a solid hit on the ball and ended up kicking it wide of the goal. When the match was over Ecuador could go home with a victory in their luggage, having controlled the game far better than Santa Fe throughout the match.