Challenge

Estadio Olímpico
Spectators: 47 (Terracing: 36, Seating: 11, VIP seats: 0) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Daniel Zorita got the match started through his kick off. Bogdan Lobonț showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Cristian Sancho in the 4th minute of the match. In the 6th minute of the match Ecuador got a corner. FC NATIONAL's goalie ran out to the linesman to protest the call, but the linesman resolutely pointed his flag at the cornerflag. Daniel Zorita ran over to the corner to take the kick. A nice corner shot did that Cristian Sancho got away a dangerous shot. Despite this Bogdan Lobonț quite easily got ahold of the ball to make the save. In the 8th minute Phaiakes Paraskevopoulos 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. Ecuador's Cristian Sancho got a good chance for a goal in the 13th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. 14 minutes into the match, FC NATIONAL's goalkeeper Bogdan Lobonț had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Daniel Zorita. The supporters of FC NATIONAL booed when Ecuador was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 16 match minutes in a wonderful position. Juan Sebastián Puig didn't get a good kick on the ball. Bogdan Lobonț showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Luis Andino, who was totally free with the ball in the 27th minute. An unexpected shot in the 28th minute by Felix Montenegro got the crowd on their feet, but to their dismay it went out on the left side. 30 minutes into the match, Ecuador's goal looked a bit too open when Apostolis Polychronopoulos came free, but Julio Vera reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Octavian Popescu struck a weak shot in the 34th minute. Julio Vera didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for FC NATIONAL. 36 minutes into the match, Phaiakes Paraskevopoulos had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Julio Vera. Ecuador's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Phaiakes Paraskevopoulos was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 0-1. Daniel Zorita could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 43rd minute of the match, but Bogdan Lobonț made a huge save. Luck had favoured the away team in the first, and they walked off with a 0-1 lead.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Apostolis Polychronopoulos made a kick off. The audience thought a goal was coming when Octavian Popescu got free with Julio Vera in the 51st minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Mukul Muka kicked well hit freekick during the 54th minute of the match. 55 minutes into the match, FC NATIONAL's goal looked a bit too open when Daniel Zorita came free, but Bogdan Lobonț reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Octavian Popescu's shot straight on target was not completely harmless. The ball had pretty good speed, but Julio Vera firmly grabbed it by the left post. Thanks to some nice moves Octavian Popescu could shoot a difficult shot in the 61st minute, which Julio Vera however easily saved by the left post. Ecuador were awarded a corner in the 63th minute after FC NATIONAL's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Daniel Zorita took the corner. Felix Montenegro sent away a hard shot on goal in the 66th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. 69 minutes into the match, Ecuador's Antonio Arias sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Bogdan Lobonț narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Bogdan Lobonț took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Cristian Sancho, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Cristian Sancho sent away a hard shot on goal in the 76th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. The audience thought a goal was coming when Phaiakes Paraskevopoulos got free with Julio Vera in the 81st minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Apostolis Polychronopoulos in the 85th 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. With a little luck, Ecuador's Julio Vera got control of the ball when Octavian Popescu tried to sneak it across the goal line. 92 minutes into the game, FC NATIONAL's Octavian Popescu 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, 0-2. FC NATIONAL were delighted with the way they had won the match. They had held their defensive line well and made the most of their chances, to claim a victory over Ecuador's much stronger midfield.