Challenge

Estadio Olímpico
Spectators: 45 (Terracing: 35, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when Victor Piţurcă kicked off to start the match. In the 3rd minute, Ecuador's Luis Andino dribbled the ball into the box and hit a shot with the outside of his foot, sending the keeper the wrong way. 1-0. If Victor Piţurcă had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 7th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Daniel Zorita recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 15th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Cristian Sancho could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 21st minute of the match, but Bogdan Lobonț made a huge save. Bogdan Lobonț showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Luis Andino in the 23rd minute of the match. An unexpectedly hard shot by Victor Piţurcă in the 26th minute of play forced Ecuador's goalkeeper Julio Vera to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Primitivo Andino kicked well hit freekick during the 28th minute of the match. If Cristian Sancho had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 31st minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Victor Piţurcă sent away a hard shot on goal in the 34th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. 40 minutes had been played when some careless play by Emerald'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. The supporters of Emerald booed when Ecuador was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 45 match minutes in a wonderful position. Luis Andino didn't get a good kick on the ball. Julio Vera took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Gabriel Vermeşan, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. No-one was surprised that the home team were leading 1-0 at half-time.

In the 52nd minute Jaime Carioca 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. An unexpectedly hard shot by Cristian Sancho in the 56th minute of play forced Emerald's goalkeeper Bogdan Lobonț to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 58th minute, Ioan Logofătu hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Cristian Sancho received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 61st minute. Bogdan Lobonț tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. In the 66th minute Daniel Zorita shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Bogdan Lobonț saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. After a rather tough play, Ecuador's Camilo Gisbert got a free kick in the 73rd minute. Daniel Zorita scored 2-0 in the 76th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Bogdan Lobonț, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. If Victor Piţurcă had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 80th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Bogdan Lobonț made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Daniel Zorita in the 85th minute of play. Victor Piţurcă recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 87th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. The supporters of Ecuador booed when Emerald was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 89 match minutes in a wonderful position. Gabriel Vermeşan didn't get a good kick on the ball. Ecuador's supporters were delighted with their team's performance and swarmed onto the pitch at the end of the match to celebrate the victory with the players.