Challenge

Lusail
Spectators: 40 (Terracing: 31, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) Lion Messi made the kick off and thus started the match. Dibag Martinez made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Daniel Zorita in the 4th minute of play. A collision led to La Scaloneta getting a freekick after 5 minutes play. Leandro Paredes hit a great ball. An unexpectedly hard shot by Cristian Sancho in the 11th minute of play forced La Scaloneta's goalkeeper Dibag Martinez to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Ecuador's attacker deliberately struck the ball against an opponent to win a corner for his team. The corner was taken by Daniel Zorita in the 12th minute. The corner led Ecuador's Luis Andino to fire away a dangerous shot which Dibag Martinez despite some difficulties managed to get hold on the ball. An unexpectedly hard shot by Daniel Zorita in the 16th minute of play forced La Scaloneta's goalkeeper Dibag Martinez to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 28th minute Daniel Zorita shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Dibag Martinez saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. After some fancy dribbling in the 31st minute, Daniel Zorita managed to get in a good position for a shot. Ecuador's supporters rose to their feet, but Daniel Zorita was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Dibag Martinez breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. If Luis Andino had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 34th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Dibag Martinez showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Daniel Zorita in the 38th minute of the match. In the 39th match minute, La Scaloneta was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Cristian Romero to maneuver through the defense. Daniel Zorita might have been able to make a better finish in the 41st minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Dibag Martinez. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Daniel Zorita ran back to his position shaking his head. After a defensive mix-up in La Scaloneta's zone, Daniel Zorita stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Dibag Martinez came out of the goal and Daniel Zorita tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. When Daniel Zorita came up free with the goalie in the 48th minute, the Ecuador fans jumped to their feet. But the shot missed the goal by a fraction of an inch, and the fans sat back down disappointed that Daniel Zorita couldn't finish the play. In the 48th minute Daniel Zorita shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Dibag Martinez saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. After a very even first half the match was still tied. The players went to their respective dressing rooms to discuss the tactics for the second half.

Leandro Paredes fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 51st minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Julio Vera having to interfere. In the 54thth minute of the game Luis Andino who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but La Scaloneta's Dibag Martinez was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. In the 54thth minute of the game Luis Andino who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but La Scaloneta's Dibag Martinez was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. Daniel Zorita recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 56th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. With a little luck, La Scaloneta's Dibag Martinez got control of the ball when Daniel Zorita tried to sneak it across the goal line. With a little luck, La Scaloneta's Dibag Martinez got control of the ball when Cristian Sancho tried to sneak it across the goal line. An unexpectedly hard shot by Lautaro Martinez in the 63rd minute of play forced Ecuador's goalkeeper Julio Vera to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. A collision led to Ecuador getting a freekick after 65 minutes play. Luis Andino hit a great ball. La Scaloneta's Julián Álvarez was substituted for Lion Messi. After some fancy dribbling in the 71st minute, Luis Andino managed to get in a good position for a shot. Ecuador's supporters rose to their feet, but Luis Andino was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Dibag Martinez breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. In the 86th minute Ecuador were awarded a corner. Daniel Zorita went to the cornerflag to take it. In the 91st minute, Daniel Zorita got an opportunity to score, but he didn't get a solid hit on the ball and ended up kicking it wide of the goal. When the referee blew the final whistle, you could see the dissatisfaction in the Ecuador players' eyes. They were disappointed they hadn't taken more from the game.