Challenge

Characate Arena
Spectators: 40 (Terracing: 31, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) Juan Sebastián Puig hit a great freekick 5 minutes into the match. Julio Vera showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Leopoldo Afonso in the 10th minute of the match. It seemed to be an obvious goal in the 12th minute, but Julio Vera got his fingers on the ball or the save, leaving Ecuador hanging dry this time. 13 minutes into the game, Characate FC's Zacarias Francesco nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Julio Vera made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 1-0. An unexpectedly hard shot by Cristian Sancho in the 21st minute of play forced Characate FC's goalkeeper Benjamin Price to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Julio Vera made an important save on a dangerous shot by Leopoldo Afonso in the 27th minute. A collision led to Characate FC getting a freekick after 31 minutes play. David Lidman hit a great ball. Nestor Gaxan's late challenge caught a Ecuador's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Nestor Gaxan helped the player get up and apologised. After 32 played minutes Characate FC got a freekick which was hit by Nestor Gaxan. 34 minutes into the match, Ecuador's goalkeeper Julio Vera had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Zacarias Francesco. In the 35th minute, Felix Montenegro 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. 38 minutes into the match, Characate FC's goal looked a bit too open when Daniel Zorita came free, but Benjamin Price reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Ecuador's Julio Vera proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 40th minute of the match, managed to save Ecuador from getting a goal against them. Daniel Zorita fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 44th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Benjamin Price having to interfere.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Daniel Zorita to make the kick off. Leopoldo Afonso hit a great freekick 52 minutes into the match. If Cristian Sancho had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 55th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. The referee felt a red card was in order, 63 minutes into the game, when Antonio Arias put in a rough tackle. 64 minutes into the game, Emre Can cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 2-1. Julio Vera was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. After a defensive mix-up in Ecuador's zone, Zacarias Francesco stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Julio Vera came out of the goal and Zacarias Francesco tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. In the 77th match minute, Characate FC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Leopoldo Afonso to maneuver through the defense. Cristian Sancho fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 78th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Benjamin Price having to interfere. Cristian Sancho received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 80th minute. Benjamin Price tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Cristian Sancho struck a weak shot in the 83rd minute. Benjamin Price didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Ecuador. Characate FC's Benjamin Price proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 88th minute of the match, managed to save Characate FC from getting a goal against them. Zacarias Francesco took the ball and in the 97 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Julio Vera. Julio Vera dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 3-1.