Challenge

Slatina Stadium
Spectators: 40 (Terracing: 31, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) FC Oltul Slatina's Iurie Avacariței 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. After some careless play in the FC Oltul Slatina defense, Daniel Zorita kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Manuel Lovinescu. The FC Oltul Slatina fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Manuel Lovinescu should have stopped the shot. After 5 played minutes Ecuador got a freekick which was hit by Agustín Saelices. Manuel Lovinescu made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Cristian Sancho in the 8th minute of play. 14 minutes into the game, Gaudencio Ubarna cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 1-2. Julio Vera was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. Julio Vera took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Iurie Avacariței, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Manuel Lovinescu showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Daniel Zorita in the 23rd minute of the match. After having played for 25 minutes, Daniel Zorita managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Ecuador's supporters crossed their fingers, but Daniel Zorita was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. An unexpectedly hard shot by Gaudencio Ubarna in the 28th minute of play forced Ecuador's goalkeeper Julio Vera to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. An unexpectedly hard shot by Daniel Zorita in the 31st minute of play forced FC Oltul Slatina's goalkeeper Manuel Lovinescu to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. FC Oltul Slatina's Gelu Coman got a good chance for a goal in the 33rd minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Ecuador's Julio Vera proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 35th minute of the match, managed to save Ecuador from getting a goal against them. In the 38th minute Cristian Sancho shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Manuel Lovinescu saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 40th minute Daniel Zorita shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Manuel Lovinescu saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Daniel Zorita in the 40th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Manuel Lovinescu saved FC Oltul Slatina from getting behind. Julio Vera stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Iurie Avacariței's shot from short distance in the 44th minute. FC Oltul Slatina's attacker deliberately struck the ball against an opponent to win a corner for his team. The corner was taken by Neil Cassar Overend in the 46th minute. Doru Oprescu was in a good position and managed to take a shot, but he missed just to the outside of the post. Luck had favoured the away team in the first, and they walked off with a 1-2 lead.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Daniel Zorita to make the kick off. 51 minutes into the game, Ecuador's Luis Andino nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Manuel Lovinescu made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 1-3. In the 55th minute Cristian Sancho shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Manuel Lovinescu saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Felix Montenegro could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 57th minute of the match, but Manuel Lovinescu made a huge save. A collision led to Ecuador getting a freekick after 59 minutes play. Juan Sebastián Puig hit a great ball. In the 60th minute, Neil Cassar Overend 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. 62 minutes into the match, FC Oltul Slatina's goalkeeper Manuel Lovinescu had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Daniel Zorita. In the 63rd match minute, Ecuador was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Agustín Saelices to maneuver through the defense. In the 71st match minute, FC Oltul Slatina was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Gelu Coman to maneuver through the defense. Cristian Sancho could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 73rd minute of the match, but Manuel Lovinescu made a huge save. 74 minutes had been played when some careless play by FC Oltul Slatina'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. In the 75th minute, Ecuador's Daniel Zorita dribbled the ball into the box and hit a shot with the outside of his foot, sending the keeper the wrong way. 1-4. Manuel Lovinescu made an important save on a dangerous shot by Felix Montenegro in the 79th minute. After 80 minutes of play, FC Oltul Slatina's Iurie Avacariței made it 2-4 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Julio Vera was left in no man's land by his defense there! Manuel Lovinescu 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 84th minute. If Daniel Zorita had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 85th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Daniel Zorita struck a weak shot in the 96th minute. Manuel Lovinescu didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Ecuador. Ecuador's players went to the stands to thank the travelling support. The fan's backing had helped spurr the team on to a fine performance that won them the match.