Challenge

Tele 2Arena
Spectators: 41 (Terracing: 32, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Daniel Zorita took the kick off in the first half of the match. Juan Sebastián Puig kicked well hit freekick during the 6th minute of the match. Bernardo Caballero could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 7th minute of the match, but Julio Vera made a huge save. After 8 played minutes Bajen got a freekick which was hit by Bernardo Caballero. Bajen's Nick Pope played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Cristian Sancho in the 9th minute of play. In the 13thth minute of the game Daniel Zorita who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Bajen's Nick Pope was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. With a little luck, Ecuador's Julio Vera got control of the ball when Johan Johansson tried to sneak it across the goal line. Julio Vera made an important save on a dangerous shot by Sidney Porto in the 24th minute. Juan Sebastián Puig hit a great freekick 28 minutes into the match. In the 36th 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. Bernardo Caballero in the 37thth minute had a little luck and got a chance for a shot in front of the goal. Without hesitation aimed to the right of Julio Vera, who managed to lunge to the right direction and made a save. Nick Pope made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Daniel Zorita in the 39th minute of play. In the 43rd 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. Bernardo Caballero hit a great freekick 46 minutes into the match. After the first half the score was level. The break gave the players a chance to catch their breath, whilst the managers went over the tactics with them again.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Sidney Porto to make the kick off. After a rather tough play, Bajen's Marcus Norberg got a free kick in the 51st minute. Juan Sebastián Puig hit a great freekick 52 minutes into the match. Julio Vera showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Sidney Porto in the 57th minute of the match. Daniel Zorita received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 63rd minute. Nick Pope tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. In the 66th minute, Karl-Magnus Åkesson hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Julio Vera showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Sidney Porto in the 73rd minute of the match. An unexpectedly hard shot by Luis Andino in the 74th minute of play forced Bajen's goalkeeper Nick Pope to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Bajen's attacker deliberately struck the ball against an opponent to win a corner for his team. The corner was taken by Johan Johansson in the 77th minute. After taking down the ball on Bajen's corner Nicklas Trøjgaard fired away a hard shot, but the defenders efficiently covered the most dangerous angles and Julio Vera quite easily take care of the ball. Bajen's Nick Pope proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 81st minute of the match, managed to save Bajen from getting a goal against them. 85 minutes into the match, Bajen's Bernardo Caballero sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Julio Vera narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Bernardo Caballero blasted a shot towards the goal in the 86th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Julio Vera having to make a save. In the 86th minute Bernardo Caballero 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. The supporters of Ecuador booed when Bajen was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 92 match minutes in a wonderful position. Svante Forsberg didn't get a good kick on the ball. Ecuador played a much better game than Bajen and deserved their victory. The Bajen players were clearly disappointed as they left the ground.