Challenge

MAURO ARENA
Spectators: 40 (Terracing: 31, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Islam Slimani took the kick off in the first half of the match. When Daniel Zorita came up free with the goalie in the 5th 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. Julio Vera made a fantastic save in the 6th minute, when Islam Slimani sent off a good shot on target. Lu Hong Qiang took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Daniel Zorita, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Lu Hong Qiang made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Daniel Zorita in the 10th minute of play. Stasio Przebendowski's late challenge caught a Ecuador's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Stasio Przebendowski helped the player get up and apologised. After 11 played minutes Mauro got a freekick which was hit by Stasio Przebendowski. After a rather tough play, Mauro's Zula Tamulewicz got a free kick in the 15th minute. After 16 minutes of play, Ecuador's Cristian Sancho made it 0-1 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Lu Hong Qiang was left in no man's land by his defense there! Daniel Zorita spun around in front of the goal 20 minutes in the game, and got away a shot that, to his disappointment, went to the left of Mauro's goal. An unexpectedly hard shot by Agustín Saelices in the 24th minute of play forced Mauro's goalkeeper Lu Hong Qiang 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 25th minute. The corner ended in Luis Andino almost managing to get the ball behind the net, but Mauro's Lu Hong Qiang did a great save. Lu Hong Qiang showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Cristian Sancho in the 31st minute of the match. 33 minutes into the match, Mauro's goal looked a bit too open when Daniel Zorita came free, but Lu Hong Qiang reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 36th match minute, Mauro was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Zula Tamulewicz to maneuver through the defense. If Cristian Sancho had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 37th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 40th minute Daniel Zorita shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Lu Hong Qiang saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Daniel Zorita in the 41st managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Lu Hong Qiang saved Mauro from getting behind. After a defensive mix-up in Ecuador's zone, Teofil Bara stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Julio Vera came out of the goal and Teofil Bara tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. In the 47th minute Daniel Zorita shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Lu Hong Qiang saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Luck had favoured the away team in the first, and they walked off with a 0-1 lead.

Stefan Lundblad hit a great freekick 57 minutes into the match. An unexpectedly hard shot by Luis Andino in the 64th minute of play forced Mauro's goalkeeper Lu Hong Qiang to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. After some fancy dribbling in the 75th 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. Lu Hong Qiang breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Cristian Sancho sent away a hard shot on goal in the 77th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. 81 minutes into the match, Ecuador's goal looked a bit too open when Teofil Bara came free, but Julio Vera reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Cristian Sancho might have been able to make a better finish in the 84th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Lu Hong Qiang. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Cristian Sancho ran back to his position shaking his head. Lu Hong Qiang made a fantastic save in the 85th minute, when Daniel Zorita sent off a good shot on target. Mauro's Lu Hong Qiang proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 87th minute of the match, managed to save Mauro from getting a goal against them. The Mauro fans had already started to leave before the final whistle blew. Ecuador were clearly better and deserved to take the win.