Challenge

Estadio Botulho
Spectators: 43 (Terracing: 33, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Daniel Zorita started the match with the kick off. Teófilo Belém made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Cristian Sancho in the 4th minute of play. Ecuador were awarded a corner in the 5th minute after MC ESPANHOL's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Daniel Zorita took the corner. It was a well-played corner which Luis Andino managed to volley towards the net. Unfortunately, he didn't get a great hit on the ball and it went out into the grandstand. Julio Vera made an important save on a dangerous shot by Virgílio Serpa in the 7th minute. Teófilo Belém took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Luis Andino, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 11th match minute, MC ESPANHOL was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Kostas Sourpis to maneuver through the defense. After a defensive mix-up in MC ESPANHOL's zone, Cristian Sancho stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Teófilo Belém 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. After having played for 15 minutes, Daniel Zorita managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Ecuador's supporters crossed their fingers, but Daniel Zorita 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 showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Frits Evenhuis, who was totally free with the ball in the 17th minute. The corner went over the outstretched arms of Ecuador's goalie and right to João Gomes. He fired away a shot at goal, but the shot had too much spin, and it went just outside the goal. Ecuador's manager breathed a sigh of relief on the sidelines as his team had managed to escape an almost certain goal. After some careless play in the Ecuador defense, Frits Evenhuis kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Julio Vera. The Ecuador fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Julio Vera should have stopped the shot. Virgílio Serpa received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 25th minute. Julio Vera tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. When Daniel Zorita came up free with the goalie in the 26th 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. In the 27th match minute, MC ESPANHOL was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Juvenal Guerreiro to maneuver through the defense. In the 29th minute Cristian Sancho shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Teófilo Belém saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. 30 minutes had been played when some careless play by MC ESPANHOL'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. When Cristian Sancho came up free with the goalie in the 34th 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 Cristian Sancho couldn't finish the play. Teófilo Belém stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Cristian Sancho's shot from short distance in the 37th minute. Teófilo Belém 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 39th minute. When Daniel Zorita fell near the penalty area in the 44th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Ecuador's protests and gave Daniel Zorita a yellow card for diving instead. After 44 played minutes Ecuador got a freekick which was hit by Daniel Zorita. No-one was surprised that the home team were leading 1-0 at half-time.

The wind increased when Virgílio Serpa made the kick off in the second half. Ecuador:s Julio Vera showed great skill when he stopped Frits Evenhuis:s penalty. 53 minutes had been played when some careless play by Ecuador's defense caused the ball to cross the line for a corner. Frits Evenhuis was slow to take the kick. During this time MC ESPANHOL's players had a chance to rest. In the 53rd minute, João Gomes hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. An unexpectedly hard shot by Cristian Sancho in the 59th minute of play forced MC ESPANHOL's goalkeeper Teófilo Belém to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Cosimo Vettori hit a great freekick 60 minutes into the match. When MC ESPANHOL's Virgílio Serpa in the 64th minute got a chance for a shot 64th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Ecuador's goalie prevented a goal. Ecuador's Daniel Zorita got a good chance for a goal in the 73rd minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. An unexpectedly hard shot by Virgílio Serpa in the 79th minute of play forced Ecuador's goalkeeper Julio Vera to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. 80 minutes into the game, MC ESPANHOL's Kostas Sourpis 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, 2-0. With a little luck, MC ESPANHOL's Teófilo Belém got control of the ball when Daniel Zorita tried to sneak it across the goal line. Julio Vera made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Piarres Hermida in the 90th minute of play. Julio Vera stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Virgílio Serpa's shot from short distance in the 94th minute.