Martin Palermo
Spectators: 40 (Terracing: 31,
Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Benigno Vermudo got the match started through his kick off. When the match had gone on for 4 minutes, Cristian Sancho put it in 0-1 from a short distance just to the right of Melquiades Manex. If Daniel Zorita had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 6th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After 20 played minutes Santa Maradona got a freekick which was hit by Florentino Dominix. 22 minutes into the game, Ecuador's Daniel Zorita nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Melquiades Manex made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 0-4. 27 minutes into the match, Cristian Sancho notched a goal, 0-5, to the right of Santa Maradona's Melquiades Manex. Melquiades Manex was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. Melquiades Manex stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Cristian Sancho's shot from short distance in the 34th minute. Melquiades Manex took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Agustín Saelices, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. After a defensive mix-up in Santa Maradona's zone, Cristian Sancho stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Melquiades Manex came out of the goal and Cristian Sancho tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. When Cristian Sancho came up free with the goalie in the 42nd 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. In the 45th minute, Daniel Zorita got an opportunity to score, but he didn't get a solid hit on the ball and ended up kicking it wide of the goal. Disappointed in the 0-6 score, the home team went to the dressing room to adjust tactics for the second half.
The wind increased when Daniel Zorita made the kick off in the second half. After some fancy dribbling in the 52nd minute, Daniel Zorita managed to get in a good position for a shot. Ecuador's supporters rose to their feet, but Daniel Zorita was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Melquiades Manex breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Daniel Zorita could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 55th minute of the match, but Melquiades Manex made a huge save. Daniel Zorita might have been able to make a better finish in the 58th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Melquiades Manex. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Daniel Zorita ran back to his position shaking his head. In the 60thth minute of the game Cristian Sancho who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Santa Maradona's Melquiades Manex was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. Julio Vera made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Ariel Costa in the 61st minute of play. Felix Montenegro's shot when he came free in front of the goal in the 62ndth minute, Melquiades Manex skillfully showed off with a save to what seemed to be an obvious goal. After 63 played minutes Santa Maradona got a freekick which was hit by Arnoldo Lleir. Daniel Zorita was probably a little too eager to shoot when he, in the 64th played minute, shot the ball from way out. The shot was hard, but the ball flew wide of the goal. Melquiades Manex didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Daniel Zorita went, in the 67th minute, to the upper right corner, 0-7 was the resulting score. In the 70th minute Luis Andino shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Melquiades Manex saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. 76 minutes into the game, Cristian Sancho cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 0-8. Melquiades Manex was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. Melquiades Manex showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Cristian Sancho in the 82nd minute of the match. Daniel Zorita in the 83rdth minute had a little luck and got a chance for a shot in front of the goal. Without hesitation aimed to the right of Melquiades Manex, who managed to lunge to the right direction and made a save. Daniel Zoritas short, quick shot in the 83rdth minute got Melquiades Manex to make great effort and bar the ball away from getting in. Cristian Sancho's shot when he came free in front of the goal in the 84thth minute, Melquiades Manex skillfully showed off with a save to what seemed to be an obvious goal. Cristian Sanchos short, quick shot in the 87thth minute got Melquiades Manex to make great effort and bar the ball away from getting in. After a defensive mix-up in Santa Maradona's zone, Antonio Arias stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Melquiades Manex came out of the goal and Antonio Arias tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. The Santa Maradona fans had already started to leave before the final whistle blew. Ecuador were clearly better and deserved to take the win.
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