Challenge

Atanasio Girardot
Spectators: 40 (Terracing: 31, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) The mood of the audience was pleasant when Carlos Alberto Azevedo made the kick off which started today's match. Atlético Nacional's Teodoro Peio played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Daniel Zorita in the 8th minute of play. Daniel Zorita took the ball and in the 8 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Teodoro Peio. Teodoro Peio dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 0-1. Baldomero Rodas might have been able to make a better finish in the 11th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Julio Vera. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Baldomero Rodas ran back to his position shaking his head. If Alonzo Rocendo had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 15th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. In the 30th minute, Nicanor Karmel hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. 35 minutes into the match, Atlético Nacional's goal looked a bit too open when Daniel Zorita came free, but Teodoro Peio reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. 35 minutes into the game, Daniel Zorita cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 0-2. Teodoro Peio was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. Julio Vera showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Baldomero Rodas, who was totally free with the ball in the 45th minute.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Daniel Zorita to make the kick off. The supporters of Ecuador booed when Atlético Nacional was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 52 match minutes in a wonderful position. Higinio Ofelio didn't get a good kick on the ball. In the 55th minute of the match Atlético Nacional got a corner. Ecuador's goalie ran out to the linesman to protest the call, but the linesman resolutely pointed his flag at the cornerflag. Baldomero Rodas ran over to the corner to take the kick. Felix Montenegro's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Teodoro Peio read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 57th minute of play. In the 58th minute, Carlos Alberto Azevedo 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. An unexpectedly hard shot by Cristian Sancho in the 61st minute of play forced Atlético Nacional's goalkeeper Teodoro Peio to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. 68 minutes into the match, Ecuador's goal looked a bit too open when Primitivo Mendez came free, but Julio Vera reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Julio Vera showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Vicente Sasoin, who was totally free with the ball in the 70th minute. In the 73rd minute, Daniel Zorita reached a very good position and smashed the ball with a huge effort into the net, just to the left of Teodoro Peio. The goal made the score 0-3. The audience was convinced that Carlos Alberto Azevedo's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Julio Vera was relentless in the 77th minute of the game. Vicente Sasoin's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Julio Vera read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 79th minute of play. Cristian Sancho's shot when he came free in front of the goal in the 81stth minute, Teodoro Peio skillfully showed off with a save to what seemed to be an obvious goal. In the 89th minute, Juan Sebastián Puig hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Ecuador played a much better game than Atlético Nacional and deserved their victory. The Atlético Nacional players were clearly disappointed as they left the ground.