Challenge

Leicester City ST
Spectators: 44 (Terracing: 34, 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. Daniel Zorita fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 11th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Kliment Zakov having to interfere. After having played for 12 minutes, Zhivko Kudev managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Birmingham City F.C.'s supporters crossed their fingers, but Zhivko Kudev was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. In the 25th minute Birmingham City F.C. were awarded a corner. Stayko Bobekov went to the cornerflag to take it. The supporters of Birmingham City F.C. booed when Ecuador was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 28 match minutes in a wonderful position. Felix Montes didn't get a good kick on the ball. After a defensive mix-up in Birmingham City F.C.'s zone, Cristian Sancho stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Kliment Zakov came out of the goal and Cristian Sancho tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. After a rather tough play, Birmingham City F.C.'s Dorin Şerban got a free kick in the 31st minute. Zhivko Kudev fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 33rd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Julio Vera having to interfere. After a rather tough play, Ecuador's Cristian Sancho got a free kick in the 41st minute. Luis Alberto Suárez received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 42nd minute. Julio Vera tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. A collision led to Birmingham City F.C. getting a freekick after 45 minutes play. Erland Boberg hit a great ball. Kliment Zakov took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Daniel Zorita, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. After fighting hard for a draw in the first half, the players were able to take a much needed rest.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Luis Alberto Suárez to make the kick off. Birmingham City F.C.'s Luis Alberto Suárez got a good chance for a goal in the 51st minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Zhivko Kudev scored 1-0 in the 54th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Julio Vera, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. In the 56th 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 58th match minute, Ecuador was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Agustín Saelices to maneuver through the defense. In the 58th minute Luis Alberto Suárez 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. Cristian Sancho fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 60th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Kliment Zakov having to interfere. With a little luck, Birmingham City F.C.'s Kliment Zakov got control of the ball when Cristian Sancho tried to sneak it across the goal line. Julio Vera showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Zhivko Kudev in the 64th minute of the match. Daniel Zorita sent away a hard shot on goal in the 65th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Kliment Zakov made an important save on a dangerous shot by Cristian Sancho in the 68th minute. A nice corner shot did that Daniel Zorita got away a dangerous shot. Despite this Kliment Zakov quite easily got ahold of the ball to make the save. Peycho Zvezdanov fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 77th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Julio Vera having to interfere. Julio Vera stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Luis Alberto Suárez's shot from short distance in the 79th minute. The audience thought a goal was coming when Daniel Zorita got free with Kliment Zakov in the 81st minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Julio Vera stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Peycho Zvezdanov's shot from short distance in the 83rd minute. Julio Vera made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Luis Alberto Suárez in the 85th minute of play. Dorin Şerban kicked well hit freekick during the 89th minute of the match. 90 minutes into the match, Ecuador's goal looked a bit too open when Luis Alberto Suárez came free, but Julio Vera reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Ecuador's supporters were dissatisfied at the end of the match because Birmingham City F.C. had won, even though Ecuador had held more of the ball.