Challenge

Martin Palermo
Spectators: 40 (Terracing: 31, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Miguel Transito started the match with the kick off. Julio Vera made an important save on a dangerous shot by Rodolfo Cordeiro in the 3rd minute. In the 6th minute of the match, Miguel Transito tried to roll the ball into the goal by the right post, but Julio Vera saw his intentions and got control of the ball before it passed the line. In the 8th minute Santa Maradona were awarded a corner. Haroldo Martxot went to the cornerflag to take it. In the 8thth minute of the game Gervasio Garcia who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Ecuador's Julio Vera was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. After having played for 10 minutes, Laureano Sustrai managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Santa Maradona's supporters crossed their fingers, but Laureano Sustrai was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Jonathan Errapel made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Daniel Zorita in the 12th minute of play. 15 minutes into the match, Santa Maradona's goal looked a bit too open when Daniel Zorita came free, but Jonathan Errapel reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. A collision led to Ecuador getting a freekick after 16 minutes play. Camilo Gisbert hit a great ball. 17 minutes into the match, Santa Maradona's Haroldo Martxot broke free and took a long shot that unfortunately flew wide. A fine initiative that could have resulted in a goal. In the 20th minute, Cecilio Beltxe hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Jonathan Errapel made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Cristian Sancho in the 21st minute of play. Felix Montenegro sent away a hard shot on goal in the 23rd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. 25 minutes into the match, Felix Montenegro had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Jonathan Errapel. Santa Maradona's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Felix Montenegro was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 0-1. Julio Vera made a fantastic save in the 31st minute, when Rodolfo Cordeiro sent off a good shot on target. 33 minutes had been played when some careless play by Ecuador's defense caused the ball to cross the line for a corner. Haroldo Martxot was slow to take the kick. During this time Santa Maradona's players had a chance to rest. The corner ended in Haroldo Martxot almost managing to get the ball behind the net, but Ecuador's Julio Vera did a great save. Julio Vera showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Miguel Transito, who was totally free with the ball in the 36th minute. If Cristian Sancho had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 37th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. Jonathan Errapel made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Cristian Sancho in the 37th minute of play. Cristian Sancho scored 0-2 in the 40th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Jonathan Errapel, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. After 42 played minutes Ecuador got a freekick which was hit by Juan Sebastián Puig. 43 minutes into the match, Ecuador's goalkeeper Julio Vera had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Rodolfo Cordeiro. The Santa Maradona players were disheartened as they walked off the pitch after the first half. Ecuador were winning 0-2.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Daniel Zorita was the one to do the kick off. In the 54th minute Santa Maradona were awarded a corner. Haroldo Martxot went to the cornerflag to take it. A nice corner shot did that Haroldo Martxot got away a dangerous shot. Despite this Julio Vera quite easily got ahold of the ball to make the save. Daniel Zorita's shot straight on target was not completely harmless. The ball had pretty good speed, but Jonathan Errapel firmly grabbed it by the left post. Miguel Transito fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 58th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Julio Vera having to interfere. Jonathan Errapel made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Felix Montenegro in the 60th minute of play. Thanks to some nice moves Daniel Zorita could shoot a difficult shot in the 62nd minute, which Jonathan Errapel however easily saved by the left post. Jonathan Errapel made a fantastic save in the 76th minute, when Daniel Zorita sent off a good shot on target. Daniel Zorita received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 77th minute. Jonathan Errapel tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Corneliu Văcăroiu hit a great freekick 79 minutes into the match. After a defensive mix-up in Santa Maradona's zone, Daniel Zorita stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Jonathan Errapel came out of the goal and Daniel Zorita tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Daniel Zorita came free with the goalkeeper in the 86th minute of the match, and shot straight on target. The shot was a little too simple and Jonathan Errapel could save by the left post. After a defensive mix-up in Santa Maradona's zone, Felix Montenegro stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Jonathan Errapel came out of the goal and Felix Montenegro tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. After a defensive mix-up in Santa Maradona's zone, Felix Montenegro stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Jonathan Errapel came out of the goal and Felix Montenegro tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play.