Challenge

Colosseum of Pain
Spectators: 40 (Terracing: 31, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Donato Amatori started the match with the kick off. Davide Conte took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Luis Andino, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Julio Vera made an important save on a dangerous shot by Ciro Cino in the 7th minute. Domenico Giocondo'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. Domenico Giocondo helped the player get up and apologised. A collision led to Alba FC getting a freekick after 10 minutes play. Andrea Iannotti hit a great ball. 11 minutes into the match, Alba FC's goal looked a bit too open when Cristian Sancho came free, but Davide Conte reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. 13 minutes into the game, Cristian Sancho cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 0-1. Davide Conte was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. If Luis Andino had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 16th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 22ndth minute of the game Daniel Zorita who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Alba FC's Davide Conte was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. If Daniel Zorita had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 24th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Daniel Zorita sent away a hard shot on goal in the 25th minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. In the 28th minute Ecuador were awarded a corner. Daniel Zorita went to the cornerflag to take it. In the 29th minute, Federico Di Iorio hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Davide Conte 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 33rd minute. Daniel Zorita fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 34th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Davide Conte having to interfere. A hard shot 36 in the game by Donato Amatori from a close distance when the talented Julio Vera managed to make a qualified save. Ecuador's players were relieved. In the 37th minute, Cristian Sancho 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. An unexpectedly hard shot by Daniel Zorita in the 40th minute of play forced Alba FC's goalkeeper Davide Conte to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Domenico Giocondo was shown his second yellow card after 43 minutes, following a rather ugly tackle on opponent. That was the end of his participation in the match. Daniel Zorita hit a great freekick 47 minutes into the match. Even after changing tactics the home team jogged off the field with a 0-2 deficit. They would have to work harder if they wanted to turn things around in the second half.

Donato Amatori 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. After 60 played minutes Alba FC got a freekick which was hit by Federico Di Iorio. Davide Conte took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Daniel Zorita, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Andrea Iannotti was in a good position and managed to take a shot, but he missed just to the outside of the post. When Andrea Banana fell near the penalty area in the 70th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Alba FC's protests and gave Andrea Banana a yellow card for diving instead. Andrea Banana kicked well hit freekick during the 70th minute of the match. 72 minutes into the match, Diego Mancebo had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Davide Conte. Alba FC's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Diego Mancebo was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 0-3. Davide Conte made an important save on a dangerous shot by Cristian Sancho in the 80th minute. Federico Di Iorio kicked well hit freekick during the 82nd minute of the match. An unexpectedly hard shot by Cristian Sancho in the 83rd minute of play forced Alba FC's goalkeeper Davide Conte to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Julio Vera didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Ciro Cino went, in the 86th minute, to the upper right corner, 1-3 was the resulting score. Cristian Sancho struck a weak shot in the 90th minute. Davide Conte didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Ecuador. After a defensive mix-up in Alba FC's zone, Cristian Sancho stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Davide Conte came out of the goal and Cristian Sancho tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. In the 95th match minute, Ecuador was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Agustín Saelices to maneuver through the defense. The Alba FC fans had already started to leave before the final whistle blew. Ecuador were clearly better and deserved to take the win.