Challenge

Queen Arena
Spectators: 42 (Terracing: 32, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) Daniel Zorita made the kick off and thus started the match. Luis Andino sent away a hard shot on goal in the 5th minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. 8 minutes into the match, Emerald'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. Daniel Zorita received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 11th minute. Bogdan Lobonț tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. In the 13th minute the ball was on its way in behind Ecuador's goalkeeper Julio Vera, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. In the 15th minute Emerald were awarded a corner. Julio Iglesias went to the cornerflag to take it. After taking down the ball on Emerald's corner Gabriel Vermeşan fired away a hard shot, but the defenders efficiently covered the most dangerous angles and Julio Vera quite easily take care of the ball. Felix Montenegro fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 20th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Bogdan Lobonț having to interfere. Gabriel Mălaimare kicked well hit freekick during the 21st minute of the match. When Cristian Sancho came up free with the goalie in the 24th minute, the Ecuador 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 Cristian Sancho couldn't finish the play. Ecuador were awarded a corner in the 31th minute after Emerald's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Daniel Zorita took the corner. Bogdan Lobonț showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Daniel Zorita, who was totally free with the ball in the 34th minute. If Luis Andino had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 38th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Bogdan Lobonț made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Cristian Sancho in the 41st minute of play. Cristian Sancho took the ball and in the 43 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Bogdan Lobonț. Bogdan Lobonț dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 0-2. Julio Vera stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Victor Piţurcă's shot from short distance in the 48th minute.

Emerald's Ioan Logofătu was substituted for Julio Iglesias. The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Victor Piţurcă stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. Bogdan Lobonț showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Luis Andino in the 53rd minute of the match. The audience thought a goal was coming when Daniel Zorita got free with Bogdan Lobonț in the 55th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Bogdan Lobonț made an important save on a dangerous shot by Daniel Zorita in the 57th minute. In the 58th minute Ecuador were awarded a corner. Daniel Zorita went to the cornerflag to take it. Ecuador's Luis Andino was first on the ball when the corner was shot and he dangerously headed the ball towards goal, but Bogdan Lobonț in the goal jumped up to prevent it from getting in. An unexpectedly hard shot by Jaime Carioca in the 61st minute of play forced Ecuador's goalkeeper Julio Vera to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Emerald's attacker deliberately struck the ball against an opponent to win a corner for his team. The corner was taken by Jaime Carioca in the 62nd minute. After some fancy dribbling in the 66th minute, Victor Piţurcă managed to get in a good position for a shot. Emerald's supporters rose to their feet, but Victor Piţurcă was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Julio Vera breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Victor Piţurcă in the 68th 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. 76 minutes into the match, Emerald's goalkeeper Bogdan Lobonț had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Cristian Sancho. Victor Piţurcă sent away a hard shot on goal in the 78th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Felix Montenegro received a nice pass, split the defenders, and ran untouched towards the goal. Bogdan Lobonț came out and tried to block the shot, but Felix Montenegro slotted it home off the left post making it 0-3 in the 80th minute. Emerald's Bogdan Lobonț played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Luis Andino in the 87th minute of play. When Victor Piţurcă came up free with the goalie in the 91st minute, the Emerald 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 Victor Piţurcă couldn't finish the play. Gabriel Mălaimare hit a great freekick 92 minutes into the match. Daniel Zorita struck a weak shot in the 95th minute. Bogdan Lobonț didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Ecuador. When the final whistle sounded Ecuador left the ground with the victory after a much better performance than Emerald.