Challenge

ESTADIO LA LIBERTAD
Spectators: 51 (Terracing: 39, Seating: 11, VIP seats: 1) Ecuador's Daniel Zorita 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. When Marco Ureña came up free with the goalie in the 4th minute, the CS La Libertad 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 Marco Ureña couldn't finish the play. Luis Marin hit a great freekick 6 minutes into the match. Ernesto Monge 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 14th minute. In the 15th minute Agustin Barrantes 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. Julio Vera made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Agustin Barrantes in the 15th minute of play. Marco Ureña's shot when he came free in front of the goal in the 22ndth minute, Julio Vera skillfully showed off with a save to what seemed to be an obvious goal. CS La Libertad's attacker deliberately struck the ball against an opponent to win a corner for his team. The corner was taken by Mainor Coronado in the 23rd minute. After 24 played minutes CS La Libertad got a freekick which was hit by Reynaldo Esquivel. Daniel Zorita fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 27th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Ernesto Monge having to interfere. If Marco Ureña had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 31st minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. 32 minutes into the game, CS La Libertad's Agustin Barrantes 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, 1-0. Antonio Arias's late challenge caught a CS La Libertad'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. The supporters of CS La Libertad booed when Ecuador was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 37 match minutes in a wonderful position. Antonio Arias didn't get a good kick on the ball. Ernesto Monge showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Cristian Sancho in the 42nd minute of the match. In the 43rd match minute, Ecuador was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Felix Montenegro to maneuver through the defense. If Marco Ureña had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 46th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead.

CS La Libertad made a substitution. Luis Martinez replaced Rodrigo Lobo. The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Agustin Barrantes was the one to do the kick off. Ernesto Monge made an important save on a dangerous shot by Daniel Zorita in the 52nd minute. After 53 minutes CS La Libertad'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. The corner led to Ecuador's Antonio Arias getting away a dangerous shot that went just outside the goal. Ernesto Monge made a fantastic save in the 58th minute, when Cristian Sancho sent off a good shot on target. Julio Vera showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Marco Ureña in the 60th minute of the match. After having played for 62 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. In the 68th minute, CS La Libertad's goalie took a deep sigh of relief after Daniel Zorita fired away a hard shot that went just outside the left post. Ernesto Monge made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Cristian Sancho in the 70th minute of play. Ecuador were awarded a corner in the 71th minute after CS La Libertad's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Daniel Zorita took the corner. The corner went over the outstretched arms of CS La Libertad's goalie and right to Luis Andino. He fired away a shot at goal, but the shot had too much spin, and it went just outside the goal. CS La Libertad's manager breathed a sigh of relief on the sidelines as his team had managed to escape an almost certain goal. 73 minutes into the game, Cristian Sancho cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 1-1. Ernesto Monge was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. Agustín Saelices took the ball and in the 78 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Ernesto Monge. Ernesto Monge dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 1-2. Ecuador's Daniel Zorita was standing unmarked in front of the goal when he, in the 84th play minute, got the ball and easily drilled it into the goal. Ernesto Monge made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Cristian Sancho in the 87th minute of play. After some careless play in the CS La Libertad defense, Cristian Sancho kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Ernesto Monge. The CS La Libertad fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Ernesto Monge should have stopped the shot. A collision led to CS La Libertad getting a freekick after 94 minutes play. Luis Martinez hit a great ball. When the match was over Ecuador could go home with a victory in their luggage, having controlled the game far better than CS La Libertad throughout the match.