Challenge

DRV PNK Stadium
Spectators: 40 (Terracing: 31, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when Arnoldo Veronica kicked off to start the match. Alejo Botello stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Daniel Zorita's shot from short distance in the 7th minute. Ecuador's Julio Vera proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 10th minute of the match, managed to save Ecuador from getting a goal against them. After a defensive mix-up in Inter Miami CF's zone, Daniel Zorita stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Alejo Botello came out of the goal and Daniel Zorita tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. 13 minutes into the match, Cristian Sancho notched a goal, 0-1, to the right of Inter Miami CF's Alejo Botello. Alejo Botello was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. Cristian Sancho sent away a hard shot on goal in the 16th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After a rather tough play, Inter Miami CF's Marcelo Milio got a free kick in the 20th minute. In the 23rd match minute, Inter Miami CF was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Placido Egun to maneuver through the defense. Agustín Saelices kicked well hit freekick during the 26th minute of the match. An unexpectedly hard shot by Cristian Sancho in the 28th minute of play forced Inter Miami CF's goalkeeper Alejo Botello to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Alejo Botello 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 31st minute. Daniel Zorita struck a weak shot in the 33rd minute. Alejo Botello didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Ecuador. In the 35th minute the ball was on its way in behind Inter Miami CF's goalkeeper Alejo Botello, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. Inter Miami CF's Alejo Botello played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Cristian Sancho in the 40th minute of play. In the 45th minute Daniel Zorita shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Alejo Botello saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 46th match minute, Ecuador was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Cristian Sancho to maneuver through the defense.

In the 53rd minute, Rigoberto Paul left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The Inter Miami CF fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 1-1. Daniel Zorita could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 56th minute of the match, but Alejo Botello made a huge save. In the 59th minute, Agustín Saelices ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Alejo Botello was frozen by the shot and now it was 1-2. Julio Vera took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Arnoldo Veronica, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Daniel Zorita kicked well hit freekick during the 64th minute of the match. Daniel Zorita's shot when he came free in front of the goal in the 66thth minute, Alejo Botello skillfully showed off with a save to what seemed to be an obvious goal. Daniel Zorita in the 70thth minute had a little luck and got a chance for a shot in front of the goal. Without hesitation aimed to the right of Alejo Botello, who managed to lunge to the right direction and made a save. Alejo Botello was out of position in the 74 minute of play, and Agustín Saelices capitalized on the mistake with a soft shot into the goal. Agustín Saelices really showed his touch with that goal: 1-3. A collision led to Inter Miami CF getting a freekick after 77 minutes play. Baltasar Porfiro hit a great ball. In the 78th minute, Ecuador's Daniel Zorita dribbled the ball into the box and hit a shot with the outside of his foot, sending the keeper the wrong way. 1-4. 82 minutes into the match, Inter Miami CF's goalkeeper Alejo Botello had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Cristian Sancho. Daniel Zorita might have been able to make a better finish in the 83rd minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Alejo Botello. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Daniel Zorita ran back to his position shaking his head. In the 84th match minute, Inter Miami CF was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Hector Goizeder to maneuver through the defense. Flaco Schiavi kicked well hit freekick during the 85th minute of the match. An unexpectedly hard shot by Daniel Zorita in the 86th minute of play forced Inter Miami CF's goalkeeper Alejo Botello to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Alejo Botello was in the perfect position, and the defense had done a good job marking him, but Cristian Sancho showcased his skills and made a perfect shot to score 1-5 in the 88 minute of play. When Cristian Sancho 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 Cristian Sancho couldn't finish the play. When the final whistle sounded Ecuador left the ground with the victory after a much better performance than Inter Miami CF.