Challenge

Maravilla Stadium
Spectators: 41 (Terracing: 32, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) Atlético Maravilla's Quentin Gonzalez started the match with a crisp pass. The crowd had been anticipating this game for weeks and the excitement in the stadium was easily visible. Julio Vera made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Dionisio Hidalgo in the 2nd minute of play. After 4 minutes Ecuador's defender was forced to head the ball over the line for a corner. It was Anders Söderlund who took care of the corner kick. Anders Söderlund made a great header on Atlético Maravilla's corner, it was just that Ecuador's Julio Vera managed to reach the ball for a save. An unexpectedly hard shot by Luis Andino in the 7th minute of play forced Atlético Maravilla's goalkeeper Zarando Lastras to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Julio Vera made an important save on a dangerous shot by Dionisio Hidalgo in the 16th minute. If Cristian Sancho had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 19th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. When Daniel Zorita came up free with the goalie in the 27th 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 Daniel Zorita couldn't finish the play. Cristian Sancho struck a weak shot in the 35th minute. Zarando Lastras didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Ecuador. In the 39th minute Daniel Zorita shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Zarando Lastras saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Daniel Zorita fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 40th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Zarando Lastras having to interfere. Zarando Lastras showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Cristian Sancho in the 41st minute of the match. Cristian Sancho sent away a hard shot on goal in the 44th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Zarando Lastras 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 46th minute. After a very even first half the match was still tied. The players went to their respective dressing rooms to discuss the tactics for the second half.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Daniel Zorita to make the kick off. After 53 minutes, Dionisio Hidalgo mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Atlético Maravilla and the Ecuador players grew even worse after the yellow card. In the 53rd match minute, Atlético Maravilla was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Dionisio Hidalgo to maneuver through the defense. Zarando Lastras made a fantastic save in the 57th minute, when Cristian Sancho sent off a good shot on target. Zarando Lastras made an important save on a dangerous shot by Daniel Zorita in the 61st minute. Anders Söderlund kicked well hit freekick during the 63rd minute of the match. When Atlético Maravilla's Quentin Gonzalez in the 66th minute got a chance for a shot 66th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Ecuador's goalie prevented a goal. Leopoldo de Queiroz might have been able to make a better finish in the 68th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Julio Vera. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Leopoldo de Queiroz ran back to his position shaking his head. 71 minutes into the match, Atlético Maravilla's goalkeeper Zarando Lastras had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Daniel Zorita. Atlético Maravilla's Shawn Seracino Inglott was substituted for Dionisio Hidalgo. Atlético Maravilla's Zarando Lastras played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Cristian Sancho in the 81st minute of play. A collision led to Atlético Maravilla getting a freekick after 83 minutes play. Zhang Zhen Yin hit a great ball. In the 86th minute the ball was on its way in behind Atlético Maravilla's goalkeeper Zarando Lastras, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. After 86 minutes, Anders Söderlund mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Atlético Maravilla and the Ecuador players grew even worse after the yellow card. A collision led to Ecuador getting a freekick after 95 minutes play. Primitivo Andino hit a great ball. When the referee blew the final whistle, you could see the dissatisfaction in the Ecuador players' eyes. They were disappointed they hadn't taken more from the game.