Challenge

NATIONAL ARENA
Spectators: 40 (Terracing: 31, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Daniel Zorita got the match started through his kick off. Daniel Zorita sent away a hard shot on goal in the 3rd minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. After 5 played minutes Ecuador got a freekick which was hit by Primitivo Andino. Mugur Basarabescu was probably a little too eager to shoot when he, in the 6th played minute, shot the ball from way out. The shot was hard, but the ball flew wide of the goal. João Massa made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Luis Andino in the 11th minute of play. In the 18th minute Daniel Zorita shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but João Massa saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 18th minute, Daniel Zorita left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The Ecuador fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 1-1. 22 minutes into the game, one of Ecuador:s players got tackled near the goal, and the referee blew for a penalty. Julio Vera had in the 25thth minute some difficulties stopping Mugur Basarabescu's well aimed penalty as it nearly passed him on his left side, but he still managed to hold the ball. After 26 played minutes UFC STEAUA got a freekick which was hit by Şamil Darcan. Cristian Sancho received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 34th minute. João Massa tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Nelson Mendoza in the 36th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Julio Vera prevented the ball from getting in the gole. Disappointed in the 1-2 score, the home team went to the dressing room to adjust tactics for the second half.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Nelson Mendoza to make the kick off. Ecuador's Julio Vera played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Mugur Nisipeanu in the 52nd minute of play. The audience was convinced that Nelson Mendoza's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Julio Vera was relentless in the 55th minute of the game. Luis Andino's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but João Massa read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 63rd minute of play. Julio Vera stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Nelson Mendoza's shot from short distance in the 64th minute. After 64 minutes, Nelson Mendoza made it 2-2 with a short kick to the right side. Ecuador's Julio Vera tried to save the shot but he was too slow in reacting to the shot. Julio Vera showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Nelson Mendoza in the 71st minute of the match. In the 78th minute, Nelson Mendoza left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The UFC STEAUA fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 3-2. When the match had gone on for 81 minutes, Nelson Mendoza put it in 4-2 from a short distance just to the right of Julio Vera. Gigel Seremet recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 84th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Cristian Sancho struck a weak shot in the 87th minute. João Massa didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Ecuador. In the 88th minute Nelson Mendoza 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. In the 89th minute, Gigel Seremet left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The UFC STEAUA fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 5-2. Julio Vera showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Nelson Mendoza in the 91st minute of the match. Nelson Mendoza received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 93rd minute. Julio Vera tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere.