Challenge

Gazprom Arena
Spectators: 40 (Terracing: 31, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Daniel Zorita got the match started through his kick off. Emanuel Emander received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 4th minute. Julio Vera tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Daniel Zorita sent away a hard shot on goal in the 6th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. 9 minutes into the game, FC Zenit Saint Petersburg's Johannes Botvidsson nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Julio Vera made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 1-0. Julio Vera made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Emanuel Emander in the 14th minute of play. FC Zenit Saint Petersburg were awarded a corner in the 16th minute after Ecuador's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Johannes Botvidsson took the corner. Johannes Botvidsson made a great header on FC Zenit Saint Petersburg's corner, it was just that Ecuador's Julio Vera managed to reach the ball for a save. Zafer Hürsel stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Daniel Zorita's shot from short distance in the 18th minute. When the match clock showed 18 minutes, the score became 1-1 when Daniel Zorita sped through FC Zenit Saint Petersburg's defense and sent away a curving shot that went into the net to the right of Zafer Hürsel. Zafer Hürsel showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Cristian Sancho in the 21st minute of the match. After a rather tough play, FC Zenit Saint Petersburg's Aron Sjöberg got a free kick in the 22nd minute. With a little luck, Ecuador's Julio Vera got control of the ball when Håkan Kjellman tried to sneak it across the goal line. Agustín Saelices kicked well hit freekick during the 37th minute of the match. Daniel Zorita fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 39th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Zafer Hürsel having to interfere. After 45 minutes, Emanuel Emander made it 2-1 with a short kick to the right side. Ecuador's Julio Vera tried to save the shot but he was too slow in reacting to the shot. No-one was surprised that the home team were leading 2-1 at half-time.

In the 57th minute Håkan Kjellman shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Julio Vera saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Zafer Hürsel acted impressively in front of the goal and made a superb save when he, in the 59th minute, took the ball on the long shot from Daniel Zorita. Julio Vera showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Emanuel Emander, who was totally free with the ball in the 66th minute. In the 70th minute Håkan Kjellman shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Julio Vera saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Julio Vera showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Håkan Kjellman in the 72nd minute of the match. After some fancy dribbling in the 77th 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. Zafer Hürsel breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. FC Zenit Saint Petersburg's Valentin Ivarsson was substituted for Emanuel Emander. 84 minutes into the match, FC Zenit Saint Petersburg's goal looked a bit too open when Luis Andino came free, but Zafer Hürsel reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 84th minute, Valentin Ivarsson left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The FC Zenit Saint Petersburg fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 3-1. Ecuador's supporters were dissatisfied at the end of the match because FC Zenit Saint Petersburg had won, even though Ecuador had held more of the ball.