Challenge

Estadio Olímpico
Spectators: 45 (Terracing: 35, 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. Panait Oprea started the match with the kick off. 2 minutes into the match, ionion's goalkeeper Fabio Abalos had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Daniel Zorita. Julio Vera made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Panait Oprea in the 4th minute of play. Fabio Abalos showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Cristian Sancho in the 7th minute of the match. 8 minutes had been played when some careless play by ionion'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. A well-hit corner resulted in Felix Montenegro heading the ball towards the goal, but to his dismay he misdirected it and missed the goal completely. Julio Vera showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Marijan Ojdanić in the 10th minute of the match. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Panait Oprea in the 14th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Julio Vera saved Ecuador from getting behind. When ionion's Panait Oprea in the 16th minute got a chance for a shot 16th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Ecuador's goalie prevented a goal. Fabio Abalos 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 19th minute. Fabio Abalos made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Cristian Sancho in the 20th minute of play. Julio Vera made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Panait Oprea in the 22nd minute of play. In the 22nd minute Panait Oprea 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. In the 22ndth minute of the game Panait Oprea who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Ecuador's Julio Vera was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. ionion's Fabio Abalos proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 24th minute of the match, managed to save ionion from getting a goal against them. Julio Vera stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Panait Oprea's shot from short distance in the 29th minute. Ştefan Isvoreanu struck a weak shot in the 32nd minute. Julio Vera didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for ionion. Daniel Zorita could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 34th minute of the match, but Fabio Abalos made a huge save. Niculae Moisescu hit a great freekick 43 minutes into the match. Julio Vera took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Marijan Ojdanić, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 46thth minute of the game Panait Oprea who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Ecuador's Julio Vera was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. The away team players looked dejected as the walked off the pitch at half time. They had fought hard, but were still losing 1-0.

The wind increased when Daniel Zorita made the kick off in the second half. When ionion's Panait Oprea in the 52nd minute got a chance for a shot 52nd didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Ecuador's goalie prevented a goal. ionion's Fabio Abalos played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Daniel Zorita in the 54th minute of play. Daniel Zorita received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 59th minute. Fabio Abalos tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Panait Oprea in the 61st minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Julio Vera prevented the ball from getting in the gole. ionion's attacker deliberately struck the ball against an opponent to win a corner for his team. The corner was taken by Grigore Pădure in the 62nd minute. The corner ended in Grigore Pădure almost managing to get the ball behind the net, but Ecuador's Julio Vera did a great save. An unexpectedly hard shot by Panait Oprea in the 64th minute of play forced Ecuador's goalkeeper Julio Vera to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. An unexpectedly hard shot by Marijan Ojdanić in the 66th minute of play forced Ecuador's goalkeeper Julio Vera to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the last second Julio Vera throw himself and got hold of the ball when Panait Oprea in the 70thth minute from his position got away a shot towards the right post. Marijan Ojdanić sent away a hard shot on goal in the 74th minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. After a defensive mix-up in ionion's zone, Cristian Sancho stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Fabio Abalos 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. Marijan Ojdanić's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Julio Vera read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 79th minute of play. In the 80th match minute, Ecuador was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Luis Andino to maneuver through the defense. In the 82ndth minute of the game Panait Oprea who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Ecuador's Julio Vera was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. Fabio Abalos showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Daniel Zorita in the 84th minute of the match. Daniel Zorita sent away a hard shot on goal in the 90th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Ecuador's fans were exulted and cheered after their team won in a match that could easily have gone the other way.