Challenge

Paolo Poli
Spectators: 41 (Terracing: 32, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) The mood of the audience was pleasant when Cesare Di Renzo made the kick off which started today's match. After a defensive mix-up in Molfetta sportiva's zone, Agustín Saelices stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Flavio Lavatrice came out of the goal and Agustín Saelices tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Molfetta sportiva's Flavio Lavatrice played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Daniel Zorita in the 7th minute of play. In the 10th minute, Cristian Sancho 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. In the 11th minute Daniel Zorita shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Flavio Lavatrice saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Flavio Lavatrice made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Daniel Zorita in the 18th minute of play. Cristian Sancho recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 21st minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Daniel Zorita sent away a hard shot on goal in the 27th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Flavio Lavatrice showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Cristian Sancho, who was totally free with the ball in the 29th minute. In the 31st minute Daniel Zorita shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Flavio Lavatrice saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. 32 minutes into the match, Ecuador's goalkeeper Julio Vera had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Carmine Iannone. Flavio Lavatrice showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Cristian Sancho in the 38th minute of the match. Ecuador's Julio Vera played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Carmine Iannone in the 41st minute of play. In the 42nd minute, Domenico Campo hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. After 47 minutes, Carmine Iannone mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Molfetta sportiva and the Ecuador players grew even worse after the yellow card. After 47 played minutes Molfetta sportiva got a freekick which was hit by Carmine Iannone. 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.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Daniel Zorita stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. In the 51st minute Carmine Iannone 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. When Ni Liang Yong fell near the penalty area in the 52nd minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Molfetta sportiva's protests and gave Ni Liang Yong a yellow card for diving instead. In the 55th minute Carmine Iannone 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. Cesare Di Renzo 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. 59 minutes into the match, Cesare Di Renzo notched a goal, 1-0, to the right of Ecuador's Julio Vera. Julio Vera was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. After having played for 63 minutes, Luis Andino managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Ecuador's supporters crossed their fingers, but Luis Andino was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. After a rather tough play, Molfetta sportiva's Francisc Bacalbașa got a free kick in the 65th minute. Molfetta sportiva made a substitution. Dario Melani replaced Cesare Di Renzo. After 66 played minutes Molfetta sportiva got a freekick which was hit by Francisc Bacalbașa. When Dario Melani came up free with the goalie in the 70th minute, the Molfetta sportiva 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 Dario Melani couldn't finish the play. Julio Vera made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Carmine Iannone in the 72nd minute of play. In the 73rd minute, Dario Melani made a precise shot to the right of Julio Vera. Ecuador's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 2-0. Flavio Lavatrice showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Cristian Sancho, who was totally free with the ball in the 77th minute. Molfetta sportiva's Flavio Lavatrice proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 80th minute of the match, managed to save Molfetta sportiva from getting a goal against them. Ni Liang Yong received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 81st minute. Julio Vera tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Cristian Sancho fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 84th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Flavio Lavatrice having to interfere. Molfetta sportiva's Carmine Iannone got a good chance for a goal in the 88th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. The crowd rose to their feet and cheered when the referee blew the final whistle. Molfetta sportiva had won after a very even match.