Challenge

Claudio D. Borghi
Spectators: 39 (Terracing: 30, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when Daniel Zorita kicked off to start the match. Ruperto Matei sent away a hard shot on goal in the 3rd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. 5 minutes into the match, Agustín Saelices notched a goal, 0-1, to the right of Argentinos Juniors's Rigoberto Nazario. Rigoberto Nazario was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. After 8 played minutes Argentinos Juniors got a freekick which was hit by Denis Mero. 14 minutes into the match, Argentinos Juniors's goal looked a bit too open when Cristian Sancho came free, but Rigoberto Nazario reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Ecuador's Julio Vera proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 16th minute of the match, managed to save Ecuador from getting a goal against them. Ecuador's defense didn't have a chance, in the 16th minute, when Ruperto Matei scored to the left of an out of position Julio Vera, making the score, 1-1. Julio Vera stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Petruț Fințescu's shot from short distance in the 19th minute. In the 22nd minute Daniel Zorita shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Rigoberto Nazario saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Felix Montenegro received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 26th minute. Rigoberto Nazario tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. In the 30th minute Daniel Zorita shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Rigoberto Nazario saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 31st minute Ecuador were awarded a corner. Daniel Zorita went to the cornerflag to take it. The corner ended in Luis Andino almost managing to get the ball behind the net, but Argentinos Juniors's Rigoberto Nazario did a great save. In the 35th minute Eleuterio Milian 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. Julio Vera made an important save on a dangerous shot by Ruperto Matei in the 36th minute. Argentinos Juniors were awarded a corner in the 37th minute after Ecuador's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Mats Falch took the corner. The Argentinos Juniors fans' excitement grew in the 38th match minute when Argentinos Juniors's Bartlomiej Mosiniak looked to have a clear shot with the ball near the goal. The shot wasn't hard, but the ball still rolled over the goal line to make it 2-1 before the goalkeeper had a chance to intervene. Rigoberto Nazario took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Daniel Zorita, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. 44 minutes into the game, Camilo Gisbert was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Ecuador's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Argentinos Juniors the free kick. In the 44th match minute, Ecuador was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Camilo Gisbert to maneuver through the defense. The away team players looked dejected as the walked off the pitch at half time. They had fought hard, but were still losing 2-1.

Daniel Zorita in the 57thth minute had a little luck and got a chance for a shot in front of the goal. Without hesitation aimed to the right of Rigoberto Nazario, who managed to lunge to the right direction and made a save. The audience was convinced that Petruț Fințescu's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Julio Vera was relentless in the 58th minute of the game. Eleuterio Milian might have been able to make a better finish in the 62nd minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Julio Vera. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Eleuterio Milian ran back to his position shaking his head. After a defensive mix-up in Ecuador's zone, Ruperto Matei stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Julio Vera came out of the goal and Ruperto Matei tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Rigoberto Nazario made a fantastic save in the 72nd minute, when Daniel Zorita sent off a good shot on target. Thanks to some nice moves Felix Montenegro could shoot a difficult shot in the 73rd minute, which Rigoberto Nazario however easily saved by the left post. After a rather tough play, Argentinos Juniors's Celedonio Madeo got a free kick in the 76th minute. Rigoberto Nazario made an important save on a dangerous shot by Daniel Zorita in the 84th minute. In the 85th minute Petruț Fințescu 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. Rigoberto Nazario came out of the goal in the 87th 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 2-2. In the 93rd minute of the match, Daniel Zorita got a very nice opportunity to score, but Rigoberto Nazario was well-placed and pushed the ball away from the goal at the left post. Argentinos Juniors succeeded in salvaging a draw, even though Ecuador had controlled the match.