Challenge

Mιntzaina
Spectators: 44 (Terracing: 34, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Daniil Barlas started the match with the kick off. The supporters of Ecuador booed when PAOK Irakliou was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 3 match minutes in a wonderful position. Giorgos Raftopoulos didn't get a good kick on the ball. PAOK Irakliou's Thodoris Patsatzis played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Daniel Zorita in the 4th minute of play. Julio Vera made an important save on a dangerous shot by Daniil Barlas in the 5th minute. Thodoris Patsatzis took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Cristian Sancho, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. The long shot by Giorgos Raftopoulos in the 8th minute really tested Julio Vera's skills. The ball was on its way into the goal to the left of him when he managed to stretch himself and save the shot and avoid a goal. Julio Vera stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Daniil Barlas's shot from short distance in the 10th minute. 13 minutes into the game, Ecuador's Daniel Zorita nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Thodoris Patsatzis made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 0-1. 25 minutes into the match, PAOK Irakliou's goal looked a bit too open when Luis Andino came free, but Thodoris Patsatzis reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Julio Vera made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Daniil Barlas in the 27th minute of play. Thodoris Patsatzis came out of the goal in the 33rd minute to try and stop a shot by Ecuador's Daniel Zorita. But to his dismay, Daniel Zorita quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 0-2. In the 36th minute the ball was on its way in behind PAOK Irakliou's goalkeeper Thodoris Patsatzis, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. Thodoris Patsatzis made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Daniel Zorita in the 39th minute of play. 47 minutes into the game, Aris Stefanopoulos was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. PAOK Irakliou's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Ecuador the free kick. A collision led to PAOK Irakliou getting a freekick after 47 minutes play. Aris Stefanopoulos hit a great ball.

The wind increased when Daniel Zorita made the kick off in the second half. Thodoris Patsatzis made an important save on a dangerous shot by Daniel Zorita in the 52nd minute. Cristian Sancho's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Thodoris Patsatzis read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 53rd minute of play. Thodoris Patsatzis made an important save on a dangerous shot by Daniel Zorita in the 60th minute. Agustín Saelices could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 65th minute of the match, but Thodoris Patsatzis made a huge save. The supporters of Ecuador booed when PAOK Irakliou was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 69 match minutes in a wonderful position. Giorgos Raftopoulos didn't get a good kick on the ball. PAOK Irakliou's Alekos Sapounelis was substituted for Konstantinos Katsouranis. PAOK Irakliou made a substitution. Sakis Skouras replaced Trifon Takounakis. After 70 played minutes PAOK Irakliou got a freekick which was hit by Giorgos Raftopoulos. PAOK Irakliou's Thodoris Patsatzis proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 71st minute of the match, managed to save PAOK Irakliou from getting a goal against them. Thodoris Patsatzis was in the perfect position, and the defense had done a good job marking him, but Daniel Zorita showcased his skills and made a perfect shot to score 1-3 in the 71 minute of play. In the 80th minute Ecuador were awarded a corner. Daniel Zorita went to the cornerflag to take it. Sakis Skouras hit a great freekick 84 minutes into the match. When Cristian Sancho came up free with the goalie in the 89th 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 Cristian Sancho couldn't finish the play. Giorgos Raftopoulos'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. Giorgos Raftopoulos helped the player get up and apologised. Aris Stefanopoulos got his second yellow card in the match during the 94th minute which meant that he had to leave the ground. In the 95th minute, Daniel Zorita ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Thodoris Patsatzis was frozen by the shot and now it was 1-4. The Ecuador supporters could be heard counting down the last seconds of the match. They errupted in celebration when the whistle blew, knowing Ecuador would go home with victory in their luggage after a match that easily could have ended differently.