Challenge

Gran Parque Central
Spectators: 50 (Terracing: 38, Seating: 11, VIP seats: 1) Daniel Zorita started the match with the kick off in front of an excited audience. Juaneizu Merida showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Felix Montenegro in the 5th minute of the match. In the 9th minute Agustín Saelices shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Juaneizu Merida saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Cristian Sancho in the 14th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Juaneizu Merida prevented the ball from getting in the gole. Juaneizu Merida made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Felix Montenegro in the 16th minute of play. Julio Vera made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Grabiel Escorcia in the 19th minute of play. In the 20th minute, Xu Sha hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. In the 21st minute Agustín Saelices shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Juaneizu Merida saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. After some fancy dribbling in the 26th minute, Xu Sha managed to get in a good position for a shot. Nacional's supporters rose to their feet, but Xu Sha 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. Julio Vera made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Grabiel Escorcia in the 29th minute of play. In the 30th minute of the match Nacional got a corner. Ecuador's goalie ran out to the linesman to protest the call, but the linesman resolutely pointed his flag at the cornerflag. Xu Sha ran over to the corner to take the kick. Joseph Gayoso was in a good position and managed to take a shot, but he missed just to the outside of the post. After a rather tough play, Ecuador's Camilo Gisbert got a free kick in the 33rd minute. After having played for 33 minutes, Grabiel Escorcia managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Nacional's supporters crossed their fingers, but Grabiel Escorcia was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. 37 minutes into the match, Ecuador's goalkeeper Julio Vera had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Luciano Inverso. The crowd rose to their feet as Luciano Inverso kicked a wonderful shot that went in to the left of a diving Julio Vera. That made the score 1-0 in the 37 minute of play. Julio Vera made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Grabiel Escorcia in the 40th minute of play. Julio Vera stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Grabiel Escorcia's shot from short distance in the 42nd minute. Juaneizu Merida showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Cristian Sancho in the 47th minute of the match. When the referee blew for the end of the half the home team players were clearly happier, as they went in to the break leading 1-0.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Grabiel Escorcia stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. In the 51st minute, one of Ecuador:s players had the ball in front of the goal but got pushed and fell. The referee felt it was an obvious case and blew a penalty for Ecuador. Ecuador's Julio Vera played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Grabiel Escorcia in the 57th minute of play. Grabiel Escorcia sent away a hard shot on goal in the 60th minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. In the 60th minute Grabiel Escorcia 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. Nacional's Juaneizu Merida proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 63rd minute of the match, managed to save Nacional from getting a goal against them. Juaneizu Merida made a fantastic save in the 63rd minute, when Cristian Sancho sent off a good shot on target. An unexpectedly hard shot by Cristian Sancho in the 66th minute of play forced Nacional's goalkeeper Juaneizu Merida to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 67th minute Grabiel Escorcia 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 took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Grabiel Escorcia, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. 73 minutes into the match, Nacional's Grabiel Escorcia sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Julio Vera narrowly saved just below the crossbar. An unexpectedly hard shot by Cristian Sancho in the 74th minute of play forced Nacional's goalkeeper Juaneizu Merida to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Daniel Zorita's shot when he came free in front of the goal in the 79thth minute, Juaneizu Merida skillfully showed off with a save to what seemed to be an obvious goal. The supporters of Nacional booed when Ecuador was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 83 match minutes in a wonderful position. Camilo Gisbert didn't get a good kick on the ball. Nacional's Walme Yurre was substituted for Mendiko Bueres. In the 83rd match minute, Ecuador was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Camilo Gisbert to maneuver through the defense. Juaneizu Merida made an important save on a dangerous shot by Cristian Sancho in the 92nd minute. Xu Sha kicked well hit freekick during the 93rd minute of the match. In the 96th minute, Grabiel Escorcia 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 2-0. The Nacional support was delighted with a win in a match that could easily have ended differently.