Challenge

Queen Arena
Spectators: 42 (Terracing: 32, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Victor Piţurcă took the kick off in the first half of the match. Ecuador's Cristian Sancho got a good chance for a goal in the 5th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. An unexpected shot in the 10th minute by Jaime Carioca got the crowd on their feet, but to their dismay it went out on the left side. In the 12th minute the ball was on its way in behind Emerald's goalkeeper Bogdan Lobonț, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. The audience thought a goal was coming when Victor Piţurcă got free with Julio Vera in the 13th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Hurşit Cemşit hit a great freekick 14 minutes into the match. Emerald's Bogdan Lobonț played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Daniel Zorita in the 15th minute of play. 20 minutes into the game, Victor Piţurcă recieved a splendid long ball, split the defenders, and gently placed the ball to the left of Julio Vera. Victor Piţurcă showed that you don't have to tear a hole in the net to score, 1-0. After some careless play in the Emerald defense, Cristian Sancho kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Bogdan Lobonț. The Emerald fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Bogdan Lobonț should have stopped the shot. After a rather tough play, Emerald's Hurşit Cemşit got a free kick in the 27th minute. Cristian Sancho sent away a hard shot on goal in the 31st minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Primitivo Andino made in the 37th minute of the game a fairly good throw-in which was taken care of by Felix Montenegro. Bogdan Lobonț took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Daniel Zorita, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Grigore Stătescu hit a great freekick 41 minutes into the match. In the 44thth minute of the game Daniel Zorita who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Emerald's Bogdan Lobonț was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. The audience was convinced that Daniel Zorita's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Bogdan Lobonț was relentless in the 44th minute of the game. Victor Piţurcă'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 48th minute of play. After the first half the score was level. The break gave the players a chance to catch their breath, whilst the managers went over the tactics with them again.

The wind increased when Daniel Zorita made the kick off in the second half. Bogdan Lobonț made a fantastic save in the 55th minute, when Daniel Zorita sent off a good shot on target. Ecuador's Julio Vera played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Victor Piţurcă in the 56th minute of play. Emerald's Bogdan Lobonț played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Luis Andino in the 60th minute of play. Victor Piţurcă might have been able to make a better finish in the 63rd minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Julio Vera. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Victor Piţurcă ran back to his position shaking his head. After having played for 70 minutes, Victor Piţurcă managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Emerald's supporters crossed their fingers, but Victor Piţurcă was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Primitivo Andino kicked well hit freekick during the 72nd minute of the match. 73 minutes into the game, Emerald's Victor Piţurcă nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Julio Vera made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 2-1. Felix Montenegro came free with the goalkeeper in the 78th minute of the match, and shot straight on target. The shot was a little too simple and Bogdan Lobonț could save by the left post. Julio Vera showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Victor Piţurcă in the 80th minute of the match. Emerald's Bogdan Lobonț proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 81st minute of the match, managed to save Emerald from getting a goal against them. In the 84th minute Victor Piţurcă 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. Emerald's attacker deliberately struck the ball against an opponent to win a corner for his team. The corner was taken by Jaime Carioca in the 85th minute. After 90 played minutes Ecuador got a freekick which was hit by Antonio Arias. In the 91st minute of the match Jaime Carioca sent off a long shot with destination to the right of the goalkeeper, but Julio Vera skillfully saved the ball. Victor Piţurcă recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 95th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Julio Vera took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Victor Piţurcă, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. The Emerald support was delighted with a win in a match that could easily have ended differently.