Challenge

Qemal Stafa
Spectators: 41 (Terracing: 32, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) Daniel Zorita started the match with the kick off in front of an excited audience. Ecuador's Julio Vera played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Cristoforo De Luca in the 4th minute of play. In the 9th match minute, K.F TIRANA was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Mao Zhen Xing to maneuver through the defense. When Ecuador's Cristian Sancho in the 15th minute got a chance for a shot 15th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye K.F TIRANA's goalie prevented a goal. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Cristian Sancho in the 15th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Branden Shelton prevented the ball from getting in the gole. Branden Shelton showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Felix Montenegro in the 17th minute of the match. After 18 minutes K.F TIRANA's defender was forced to head the ball over the line for a corner. It was Daniel Zorita who took care of the corner kick. The corner led Ecuador's Felix Montes to fire away a dangerous shot which Branden Shelton despite some difficulties managed to get hold on the ball. In the 25th minute the ball was on its way in behind K.F TIRANA's goalkeeper Branden Shelton, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. After a rather tough play, K.F TIRANA's Aurel Simaku got a free kick in the 26th minute. In the 27th minute, Luis Andino 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. 31 minutes had been played when some careless play by Ecuador's defense caused the ball to cross the line for a corner. Coronel Durango was slow to take the kick. During this time K.F TIRANA's players had a chance to rest. If Luis Andino had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 35th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. K.F TIRANA were awarded a corner in the 40th minute after Ecuador's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Coronel Durango took the corner. In the 41st minute, K.F TIRANA's Aurel Simaku ran free of his marker and smoothly shot the ball into the goal behind Julio Vera. Julio Vera yelled at his defense, as they had left him out to dry. 1-0. After 45 played minutes K.F TIRANA got a freekick which was hit by Marsel Spaha. The away team players looked dejected as the walked off the pitch at half time. They had fought hard, but were still losing 1-0.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Cristoforo De Luca stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. Juan Sebastián Puig recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 53rd minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. An unexpectedly hard shot by Daniel Zorita in the 55th minute of play forced K.F TIRANA's goalkeeper Branden Shelton to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Ecuador's Felix Montenegro got a good chance for a goal in the 56th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Cristoforo De Luca fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 57th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Julio Vera having to interfere. In the 60th minute, Paco Cano hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Luis Andino fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 63rd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Branden Shelton having to interfere. K.F TIRANA's Nevjon Rexhepi managed, thanks to a brazen rush, stole the ball on a throw-in made by Camilo Gisbert in the 65 minute of the game. 68 minutes into the match, K.F TIRANA's goalkeeper Branden Shelton had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Cristian Sancho. In the 71st 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. With a little luck, K.F TIRANA's Branden Shelton got control of the ball when Daniel Zorita tried to sneak it across the goal line. Ecuador's attacker deliberately struck the ball against an opponent to win a corner for his team. The corner was taken by Daniel Zorita in the 74th minute. The corner ended in Daniel Zorita almost managing to get the ball behind the net, but K.F TIRANA's Branden Shelton did a great save. 79 minutes into the match, Ecuador's Agustín Saelices sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Branden Shelton narrowly saved just below the crossbar. The corner led Ecuador's Agustín Saelices to a score. 1-1 in the 80th minute. Cristian Sancho sent away a hard shot on goal in the 84th minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. When K.F TIRANA's Cristoforo De Luca in the 87th minute got a chance for a shot 87th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Ecuador's goalie prevented a goal. K.F TIRANA's Cristoforo De Luca got a good chance for a goal in the 90th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Daniel Zorita sent away a hard shot on goal in the 92nd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. K.F TIRANA's Marsel Spaha got his second yellow card of the match in the 93rd minute. The referee ordered Marsel Spaha off the ground. Ecuador were disappointed that they only managed a draw, even though they felt themselves to be the better team.