Challenge

Ciudad Universitaria
Spectators: 45 (Terracing: 35, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) Ecuador's Daniel Zorita 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. Cougars FC's Fernando Abarca 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. Lorenzo Aimar sent away a hard shot on goal in the 6th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Fernando Abarca took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Daniel Zorita, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. 12 minutes into the match, Ecuador's Daniel Zorita sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Fernando Abarca narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Fabio Artal charged in rather forcefully in the 17th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Fabio Artal the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. Fabio Artal hit a great freekick 17 minutes into the match. 22 minutes into the match, Agustín Saelices had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Fernando Abarca. Cougars FC's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Agustín Saelices was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 0-1. Gualterio Pio received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 32nd minute. Julio Vera tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Cristian Sancho scored 0-2 in the 39th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Fernando Abarca, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. If Daniel Zorita had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 41st minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. In the 43rd minute of the match Ecuador got a corner. Cougars FC'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. The corner led Ecuador's Daniel Zorita to fire away a dangerous shot which Fernando Abarca despite some difficulties managed to get hold on the ball. After the first half Ecuador were leading 0-2. They had played with great self confidence throughout the first half and fully deserved their lead.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Lorenzo Aimar stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. Fernando Belarmo hit a great freekick 54 minutes into the match. Cougars FC's Fernando Abarca proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 56th minute of the match, managed to save Cougars FC from getting a goal against them. The corner ended in Daniel Zorita almost managing to get the ball behind the net, but Cougars FC's Fernando Abarca did a great save. If Cristian Sancho had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 61st minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. When Fernando Belarmo fell near the penalty area in the 69th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Cougars FC's protests and gave Fernando Belarmo a yellow card for diving instead. Fernando Belarmo hit a great freekick 69 minutes into the match. Ecuador's Felix Montenegro got a good chance for a goal in the 74th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. In the 77th minute the ball was on its way in behind Cougars FC's goalkeeper Fernando Abarca, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. Fernando Abarca was a little too slow when Cristian Sancho got a fine hit on the ball which went right into the goal in the 77th minute. The score was now 0-4. Cougars FC's Fernando Abarca proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 81st minute of the match, managed to save Cougars FC from getting a goal against them. Daniel Zorita sent away a hard shot on goal in the 83rd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. 85 minutes into the match, Cougars FC's goal looked a bit too open when Cristian Sancho came free, but Fernando Abarca reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. The audience thought a goal was coming when Daniel Zorita got free with Fernando Abarca in the 86th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Agustín Saelices struck a weak shot in the 88th minute. Fernando Abarca didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Ecuador. Julio Vera stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Lorenzo Aimar's shot from short distance in the 93rd minute.