Challenge

ARENA DO GIOIA TAURO
Spectators: 40 (Terracing: 31, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) Gioiese Calcio's Maarek Ratas started the match with a crisp pass. The crowd had been anticipating this game for weeks and the excitement in the stadium was easily visible. In the 5th minute, Gerardo Ramone 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 1-0. After some fancy dribbling in the 8th minute, Cristian Sancho managed to get in a good position for a shot. Ecuador's supporters rose to their feet, but Cristian Sancho was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Söncke Gärtner breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Söncke Gärtner 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 12th minute. After 12 minutes of play, Ecuador's Daniel Zorita made it 1-1 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Söncke Gärtner was left in no man's land by his defense there! Cristian Sancho received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 18th minute. Söncke Gärtner tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Söncke Gärtner 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 22nd minute. Gioiese Calcio were awarded a corner in the 27th minute after Ecuador's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Abelardo Fonso took the corner. Abelardo Fonso made a great header on Gioiese Calcio's corner, it was just that Ecuador's Julio Vera managed to reach the ball for a save. 35 minutes into the match, Gioiese Calcio's goal looked a bit too open when Daniel Zorita came free, but Söncke Gärtner reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Söncke Gärtner took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Cristian Sancho, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Ecuador's Julio Vera proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 37th minute of the match, managed to save Ecuador from getting a goal against them. 39 minutes into the match, Gioiese Calcio's goal looked a bit too open when Daniel Zorita came free, but Söncke Gärtner reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 40th minute of the match Ecuador got a corner. Gioiese Calcio's goalie ran out to the linesman to protest the call, but the linesman resolutely pointed his flag at the cornerflag. Daniel Zorita ran over to the corner to take the kick. A nice corner shot did that Daniel Zorita got away a dangerous shot. Despite this Söncke Gärtner quite easily got ahold of the ball to make the save. After 41 minutes Gioiese Calcio'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. A well-hit corner resulted in Luis Andino heading the ball towards the goal, but to his dismay he misdirected it and missed the goal completely. An unexpectedly hard shot by Cristian Sancho in the 45th minute of play forced Gioiese Calcio's goalkeeper Söncke Gärtner to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 47th minute, Kamer Hammer 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 2-1. All the noise was coming from the home fans when the whistle went for half-time. The home team had fought hardest to put themselves in a deserved lead.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Daniel Zorita was the one to do the kick off. 56 minutes into the match, Gioiese Calcio's goalkeeper Söncke Gärtner had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Daniel Zorita. Söncke Gärtner made an important save on a dangerous shot by Daniel Zorita in the 56th minute. 58 minutes into the match, Ecuador's goal looked a bit too open when Gerardo Ramone came free, but Julio Vera reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Arnulfo Savier recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 65th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Maarek Ratas sent away a hard shot on goal in the 67th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Julio Vera made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Kamer Hammer in the 70th minute of play. Abelardo Fonso hit a great freekick 74 minutes into the match. Söncke Gärtner 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 75th minute. In the 76th match minute, Gioiese Calcio was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Maarek Ratas to maneuver through the defense. Söncke Gärtner made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Luis Andino in the 77th minute of play. Cristian Sancho's shot when he came free in front of the goal in the 79thth minute, Söncke Gärtner skillfully showed off with a save to what seemed to be an obvious goal. Lambis Goya charged in rather forcefully in the 81st minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Lambis Goya the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. The referee blew the whistle for a penalty in the 80th minute of the game. One of Gioiese Calcio:s players had nearly got his shirt torn off by an opponent while getting free in front of Ecuador:s goal. Söncke Gärtner had in the 82ndth minute some difficulties stopping Daniel Zorita's well aimed penalty as it nearly passed him on his left side, but he still managed to hold the ball. Daniel Zorita came free with the goalkeeper in the 83rd minute of the match, and shot straight on target. The shot was a little too simple and Söncke Gärtner could save by the left post. Isaias Urbes hit a great freekick 90 minutes into the match. Söncke Gärtner made a fantastic save in the 93rd minute, when Cristian Sancho sent off a good shot on target. Cristian Sancho received a nice pass, split the defenders, and ran untouched towards the goal. Söncke Gärtner came out and tried to block the shot, but Cristian Sancho slotted it home off the left post making it 2-2 in the 95th minute. Gioiese Calcio succeeded in salvaging a draw, even though Ecuador had controlled the match.