Challenge

Paulistano
Spectators: 40 (Terracing: 31, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Gong Zhan Chen started the match with the kick off. In the 3rd minute, Felix Montenegro hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. 14 minutes into the match, Ecuador's goal looked a bit too open when Jimeno Henric came free, but Julio Vera reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. └◘RivierA▬Þauli§tA◘┘ were awarded a corner in the 15th minute after Ecuador's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Nestor Batista took the corner. After taking down the ball on └◘RivierA▬Þauli§tA◘┘'s corner Nestor Batista fired away a hard shot, but the defenders efficiently covered the most dangerous angles and Julio Vera quite easily take care of the ball. The audience thought a goal was coming when Gong Zhan Chen got free with Julio Vera in the 16th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Gong Zhan Chen fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 19th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Julio Vera having to interfere. In the 22nd minute Daniel Zorita shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Arlindo Rossi 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 Ronaldo Simão, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 26th minute of the match └◘RivierA▬Þauli§tA◘┘ 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. Nestor Batista ran over to the corner to take the kick. The corner led └◘RivierA▬Þauli§tA◘┘'s Nestor Batista to fire away a dangerous shot which Julio Vera despite some difficulties managed to get hold on the ball. Julio Vera took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Jimeno Henric, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. └◘RivierA▬Þauli§tA◘┘ were awarded a corner in the 37th minute after Ecuador's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Nestor Batista took the corner. The corner ended in Nestor Batista almost managing to get the ball behind the net, but Ecuador's Julio Vera did a great save. 38 minutes into the match, Daniel Zorita had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Arlindo Rossi. └◘RivierA▬Þauli§tA◘┘'s manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Daniel Zorita was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 0-2. Daniel Zorita's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Arlindo Rossi read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 43rd minute of play. After the first half Ecuador were leading 0-2. They had played with great self confidence throughout the first half and fully deserved their lead.

The wind increased when Daniel Zorita made the kick off in the second half. Gong Zhan Chen sent away a hard shot on goal in the 54th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Julio Vera showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Gong Zhan Chen in the 56th minute of the match. Jimeno Henric struck a weak shot in the 61st 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 └◘RivierA▬Þauli§tA◘┘. With a little luck, └◘RivierA▬Þauli§tA◘┘'s Arlindo Rossi got control of the ball when Daniel Zorita tried to sneak it across the goal line. In the 63rd 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. 0-3. Ecuador's Julio Vera played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Gong Zhan Chen in the 66th minute of play. Julio Vera showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Jimeno Henric, who was totally free with the ball in the 68th minute. After a rather tough play, └◘RivierA▬Þauli§tA◘┘'s Ronaldo Simão got a free kick in the 69th minute. In the 71st minute Gong Zhan Chen 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 75th minute, Ronaldo Simão hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Arlindo Rossi was in exellent shape and made a fantastic save when he, in the 77th minute of the match, managed to get hold of the ball after a long shot from Daniel Zorita. A collision led to Ecuador getting a freekick after 79 minutes play. Daniel Zorita hit a great ball. Julio Vera showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Jimeno Henric, who was totally free with the ball in the 82nd minute. The supporters of └◘RivierA▬Þauli§tA◘┘ booed when Ecuador was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 84 match minutes in a wonderful position. Luis Andino didn't get a good kick on the ball. If Ronaldo Simão had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 85th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. Julio Vera didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Gong Zhan Chen went, in the 87th minute, to the upper right corner, 1-3 was the resulting score. Jimeno Henric'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 90th minute of play. 93 minutes into the match, Gong Zhan Chen had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Julio Vera. Ecuador's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Gong Zhan Chen was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 2-3. When the match was over Ecuador could go home with a victory in their luggage, having controlled the game far better than └◘RivierA▬Þauli§tA◘┘ throughout the match.