Challenge

Paolo Poli
Spectators: 41 (Terracing: 32, 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. Daniel Zorita started the match with the kick off. In the 5th minute, Daniel Zorita made a precise shot to the right of Flavio Lavatrice. Molfetta sportiva's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 0-1. Julio Vera showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Carmine Iannone, who was totally free with the ball in the 8th minute. Flavio Lavatrice made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Daniel Zorita in the 9th minute of play. Cesare Di Renzo could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 11th minute of the match, but Julio Vera made a huge save. Carmine Iannone struck a weak shot in the 13th 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 Molfetta sportiva. In the 14th minute Cristian Sancho shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Flavio Lavatrice saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. 14 minutes into the match, Cristian Sancho had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Flavio Lavatrice. Molfetta sportiva's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Cristian Sancho was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 0-2. In the 19thth minute of the game Carmine Iannone 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. 20 minutes into the match, Molfetta sportiva's goal looked a bit too open when Daniel Zorita came free, but Flavio Lavatrice reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Flavio Lavatrice made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Cristian Sancho in the 22nd minute of play. 23 minutes into the match, Cesare Di Renzo dribbled the ball past the defender and swiftly kicked the ball to the left of Julio Vera, 1-2. 27 minutes into the match, Ecuador's goal looked a bit too open when Ni Liang Yong came free, but Julio Vera reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Molfetta sportiva's Flavio Lavatrice played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Cristian Sancho in the 32nd minute of play. Francisc Bacalbașa charged in rather forcefully in the 34th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Francisc Bacalbașa the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. In the 34th minute, Francisc Bacalbașa hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Flavio Lavatrice took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Daniel Zorita, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 38th minute of the game, Carmine Iannone landed unfortunately after trying to head the ball, and pulled a muscle in the back, so badly that he had to leave the field. When Primitivo Andino fell near the penalty area in the 39th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Ecuador's protests and gave Primitivo Andino a yellow card for diving instead. Molfetta sportiva's Dario Melani was substituted for Carmine Iannone. In the 38th 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. Felix Montenegro blasted a shot towards the goal in the 47th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Flavio Lavatrice having to make a save.

The wind increased when Cesare Di Renzo made the kick off in the second half. Ni Liang Yong recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 53rd minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Daniel Zorita fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 56th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Flavio Lavatrice having to interfere. After 61 played minutes Molfetta sportiva got a freekick which was hit by Francisc Bacalbașa. Daniel Zorita could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 63rd minute of the match, but Flavio Lavatrice made a huge save. After 64 minutes Molfetta sportiva's defender was forced to head the ball over the line for a corner. It was Daniel Zorita who took care of the corner kick. Ecuador's Agustín Saelices was first on the ball when the corner was shot and he dangerously headed the ball towards goal, but Flavio Lavatrice in the goal jumped up to prevent it from getting in. Felix Montenegro fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 69th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Flavio Lavatrice having to interfere. In the 72nd minute Dario Melani 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. Robert Matthews hit a great freekick 76 minutes into the match. A collision led to Molfetta sportiva getting a freekick after 77 minutes play. Robert Matthews hit a great ball. In the 79th minute the ball was on its way in behind Molfetta sportiva's goalkeeper Flavio Lavatrice, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. The supporters of Molfetta sportiva booed when Ecuador was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 83 match minutes in a wonderful position. Daniel Zorita didn't get a good kick on the ball. A collision led to Molfetta sportiva getting a freekick after 84 minutes play. Dario Melani hit a great ball. In the 85th minute, Daniel Zorita ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Flavio Lavatrice was frozen by the shot and now it was 1-3. If Cristian Sancho had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 89th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Flavio Lavatrice showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Cristian Sancho, who was totally free with the ball in the 90th minute. After having played for 92 minutes, Cesare Di Renzo managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Molfetta sportiva's supporters crossed their fingers, but Cesare Di Renzo was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Agustín Saelices hit a great freekick 93 minutes into the match.