Challenge

Asti Stadium
Spectators: 43 (Terracing: 33, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Fausto Pinti started the match with the kick off. In the 3rd minute, Fausto Pinti reached a very good position and smashed the ball with a huge effort into the net, just to the left of Julio Vera. The goal made the score 1-0. An unexpectedly hard shot by Elia Pietrantoni in the 5th minute of play forced Ecuador's goalkeeper Julio Vera to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. If Agustín Saelices had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 8th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 10th minute, Daniel Zorita left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The Ecuador fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 1-1. Eurospeed Asti's Damiano Battisti played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Daniel Zorita in the 15th minute of play. Elia Pietrantoni fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 20th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Julio Vera having to interfere. Iosif Gherase's late challenge caught a Ecuador's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Iosif Gherase helped the player get up and apologised. After some fancy dribbling in the 23rd minute, Cristian Sancho managed to get in a good position for a shot. Ecuador's supporters rose to their feet, but Cristian Sancho was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Damiano Battisti breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. After 28 played minutes Eurospeed Asti got a freekick which was hit by Amedeo Moriggi. Eurospeed Asti were awarded a corner in the 32th minute after Ecuador's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Fausto Pinti took the corner. Julio Vera showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Fausto Pinti in the 37th minute of the match. If Cristian Sancho had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 38th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Julio Vera made an important save on a dangerous shot by Grant Irø in the 40th minute. In the 45th minute, Daniel Zorita sent off a long shot on goal, but the shot was nowhere near the goal and Eurospeed Asti's Damiano Battisti didn't even have to move. The fans had the chance to grab some refreshments as the whistle went for half-time. The score stood at 1-1 after a close first half.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Daniel Zorita made a kick off. After 51 played minutes Eurospeed Asti got a freekick which was hit by Antonello Tofani. Cristian Sancho's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Damiano Battisti read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 52nd minute of play. In the 53rd minute of the match Ecuador got a corner. Eurospeed Asti's goalie ran out to the linesman to protest the call, but the linesman resolutely pointed his flag at the cornerflag. Daniel Zorita ran over to the corner to take the kick. Ecuador's Daniel Zorita was first on the ball when the corner was shot and he dangerously headed the ball towards goal, but Damiano Battisti in the goal jumped up to prevent it from getting in. After a rather tough play, Eurospeed Asti's Fausto Pinti got a free kick in the 55th minute. Cristian Sancho received a nice pass, split the defenders, and ran untouched towards the goal. Damiano Battisti came out and tried to block the shot, but Cristian Sancho slotted it home off the left post making it 1-2 in the 58th minute. Agustín Saelices charged in rather forcefully in the 64th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Agustín Saelices the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. 65 minutes into the match, Elia Pietrantoni notched a goal, 2-2, to the right of Ecuador's Julio Vera. Julio Vera was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. An unexpectedly hard shot by Fausto Pinti in the 69th minute of play forced Ecuador's goalkeeper Julio Vera to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Daniel Zoritas short, quick shot in the 71stth minute got Damiano Battisti to make great effort and bar the ball away from getting in. Daniel Zorita received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 79th minute. Damiano Battisti tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Damiano Battisti made an important save on a dangerous shot by Cristian Sancho in the 81st minute. After a defensive mix-up in Eurospeed Asti's zone, Daniel Zorita stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Damiano Battisti came out of the goal and Daniel Zorita tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Fausto Pinti in the 85th 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. The supporters of Ecuador booed when Eurospeed Asti was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 87 match minutes in a wonderful position. Elia Pietrantoni didn't get a good kick on the ball. Grant Irø hit a great freekick 95 minutes into the match. Ecuador were unable to convert their possession into goals, allowing Eurospeed Asti to leave the ground with a draw.