Challenge

Estadio Nacional
Spectators: 45 (Terracing: 35, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Gabi Gol took the kick off in the first half of the match. Marco Tamayo hit a great freekick 2 minutes into the match. When Gabi Gol came up free with the goalie in the 3rd minute, the América-SC F.C. 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 Gabi Gol couldn't finish the play. In the 4th match minute, El Salvador was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Joshua Curbelo to maneuver through the defense. After having played for 6 minutes, Erasmo dos Santos managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. América-SC F.C.'s supporters crossed their fingers, but Erasmo dos Santos 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, El Salvador's Joshua Curbelo got a free kick in the 12th minute. América-SC F.C.'s Gabi Gol got a good chance for a goal in the 13th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Lorenzo Yepes kicked well hit freekick during the 15th minute of the match. Ricardo Zorita stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Gabi Gol's shot from short distance in the 19th minute. The América-SC F.C. fans' excitement grew in the 21st match minute when América-SC F.C.'s Gabi Gol 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 0-1 before the goalkeeper had a chance to intervene. The audience thought a goal was coming when Moises Fernandino got free with Nestor Quirino in the 24th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. 27 minutes into the match, Gabi Gol had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Ricardo Zorita. El Salvador's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Gabi Gol was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 0-2. Ricardo Zorita didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Erasmo dos Santos went, in the 30th minute, to the upper right corner, 0-3 was the resulting score. 33 minutes into the game, Valentino Ferrant was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. El Salvador's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave América-SC F.C. the free kick. After a rather tough play, El Salvador's Valentino Ferrant got a free kick in the 33rd minute. Ricardo Zorita showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Gabi Gol, who was totally free with the ball in the 34th minute. 40 minutes into the match, América-SC F.C.'s goalkeeper Nestor Quirino had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Moises Fernandino. Ricardo Zorita took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Gabi Gol, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. After 42 played minutes El Salvador got a freekick which was hit by Abram Luque. In the 43rd minute, Gabi Gol 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. The El Salvador players were disheartened as they walked off the pitch after the first half. América-SC F.C. were winning 0-3.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Moises Fernandino made a kick off. In the 53rd minute, Gabi Gol made a precise shot to the right of Ricardo Zorita. El Salvador's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 0-4. If Gabi Gol had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 58th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. Ricardo Zorita showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Gabi Gol in the 58th minute of the match. Gabi Gol's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Ricardo Zorita read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 61st minute of play. Joshua Curbelo kicked well hit freekick during the 62nd minute of the match. The audience was convinced that Gabi Gol's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Ricardo Zorita was relentless in the 63rd minute of the game. Erasmo dos Santos blasted a shot towards the goal in the 67th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Ricardo Zorita having to make a save. If Gabi Gol had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 72nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. América-SC F.C.'s Kobe Haaland was substituted for Gabi Gol. The supporters of América-SC F.C. booed when El Salvador was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 74 match minutes in a wonderful position. Mateo Leguizamo didn't get a good kick on the ball. 75 minutes into the game, Erasmo dos Santos cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 0-5. Ricardo Zorita was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. In the 80th minute, Kobe Haaland 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. América-SC F.C.'s Joaquim Branco managed, thanks to a brazen rush, stole the ball on a throw-in made by Valentino Ferrant in the 82 minute of the game. After some fancy dribbling in the 85th minute, Kobe Haaland managed to get in a good position for a shot. América-SC F.C.'s supporters rose to their feet, but Kobe Haaland was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Ricardo Zorita breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Erasmo dos Santos received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 87th minute. Ricardo Zorita tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. A collision led to El Salvador getting a freekick after 88 minutes play. Abram Luque hit a great ball. In the 91st minute, Kobe Haaland ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Ricardo Zorita was frozen by the shot and now it was 0-6. Kobe Haaland who was well placed in front of the goal fired away a dangerous shot that in the 96thth minute tested the skills of Ricardo Zorita when he managed to save the team from getting behind. América-SC F.C. played a much better game than El Salvador and deserved their victory. The El Salvador players were clearly disappointed as they left the ground.