Challenge

Pepsi Arena
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. Joshua Sammut Castelletti started the match with the kick off. 5 minutes had been played when some careless play by FC Pepsi's defense caused the ball to cross the line for a corner. Daniel Zorita was slow to take the kick. During this time Ecuador's players had a chance to rest. The corner ended in Daniel Zorita almost managing to get the ball behind the net, but FC Pepsi's Paul Holmstedt did a great save. Luis Andino fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 10th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Paul Holmstedt having to interfere. After 11 played minutes FC Pepsi got a freekick which was hit by Kurt Lundin. Paul Holmstedt showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Cristian Sancho, who was totally free with the ball in the 15th minute. In the 17th minute Ecuador were awarded a corner. Daniel Zorita went to the cornerflag to take it. 18 minutes into the match, FC Pepsi's goal looked a bit too open when Cristian Sancho came free, but Paul Holmstedt reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Felix Montenegro sent away a hard shot on goal in the 20th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. The supporters of FC Pepsi booed when Ecuador was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 28 match minutes in a wonderful position. Felix Montes didn't get a good kick on the ball. When Joshua Sammut Castelletti came up free with the goalie in the 29th minute, the FC Pepsi 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 Joshua Sammut Castelletti couldn't finish the play. Ecuador were awarded a corner in the 33th minute after FC Pepsi's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Daniel Zorita took the corner. After taking down the ball on Ecuador's corner Cristian Sancho fired away a hard shot, but the defenders efficiently covered the most dangerous angles and Paul Holmstedt quite easily take care of the ball. In the 37th minute, Lars Hedlund hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. After 37 played minutes, Ecuador's Daniel Zorita shot from a long distance, and at first it looked like the ball was going into the goal, but the goalkeeper Paul Holmstedt came through and got his fingers on the ball before it flew over the goal line. He then quickly gripped the ball tighter before the forwards in Ecuador reached it. In the 38th minute Joshua Sammut Castelletti 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. Daniel Zorita's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Paul Holmstedt read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 39th minute of play. After 41 minutes FC Pepsi's defender was forced to head the ball over the line for a corner. It was Daniel Zorita who took care of the corner kick. A nice corner shot did that Daniel Zorita got away a dangerous shot. Despite this Paul Holmstedt quite easily got ahold of the ball to make the save. In the game's 41st minute Ecuador's Daniel Zorita took a hard shot from long distance, a kick which went into the net just to the right of Paul Holmstedt and thus the score was 1-1. Cristian Sancho received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 48th minute. Paul Holmstedt tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. After the first half the score was level. The break gave the players a chance to catch their breath, whilst the managers went over the tactics with them again.

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. When Joshua Sammut Castelletti came up free with the goalie in the 51st minute, the FC Pepsi 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 Joshua Sammut Castelletti couldn't finish the play. 56 minutes into the match, Ecuador's goal looked a bit too open when Lv Yuan Kuan came free, but Julio Vera reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. When FC Pepsi's Joshua Sammut Castelletti in the 60th minute got a chance for a shot 60th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Ecuador's goalie prevented a goal. Julio Vera showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Lv Yuan Kuan in the 61st minute of the match. Kurt Lundin received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 62nd minute. Julio Vera tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. If Joshua Sammut Castelletti had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 65th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. Joshua Sammut Castelletti kicked well hit freekick during the 71st minute of the match. FC Pepsi made a substitution. Kanu Kanu replaced Lv Yuan Kuan. 75 minutes into the game, Agustín Saelices recieved a splendid long ball, split the defenders, and gently placed the ball to the left of Paul Holmstedt. Agustín Saelices showed that you don't have to tear a hole in the net to score, 1-2. 79 minutes into the game, Cristian Sancho recieved a splendid long ball, split the defenders, and gently placed the ball to the left of Paul Holmstedt. Cristian Sancho showed that you don't have to tear a hole in the net to score, 1-3. Paul Holmstedt showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Luis Andino in the 85th minute of the match. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Kanu Kanu in the 93rd 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. The audience was convinced that Kanu Kanu's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Julio Vera was relentless in the 93rd minute of the game. Cristian Sancho received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 94th minute. Paul Holmstedt tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. The FC Pepsi fans had already started to leave before the final whistle blew. Ecuador were clearly better and deserved to take the win.