Challenge

Claudio D. Borghi
Spectators: 39 (Terracing: 30, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) Argentinos Juniors's Petruț Fințescu started the match with a crisp pass. The crowd had been anticipating this game for weeks and the excitement in the stadium was easily visible. In the 3rd minute, Felix Montes hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Rigoberto Nazario 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 13th minute. Sven de Zwaan came free with the goalkeeper in the 15th minute of the match, and shot straight on target. The shot was a little too simple and Julio Vera could save by the left post. Felix Montes kicked well hit freekick during the 20th minute of the match. Sven de Zwaan came free with the goalkeeper in the 24th minute of the match, and shot straight on target. The shot was a little too simple and Julio Vera could save by the left post. Rigoberto Nazario showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Cristian Sancho in the 25th minute of the match. In the 28th minute Luis Andino shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Rigoberto Nazario saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Julio Vera made an important save on a dangerous shot by Ruperto Matei in the 30th minute. In the 32nd match minute, Argentinos Juniors was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Roberto Trotta to maneuver through the defense. Julio Vera showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Petruț Fințescu, who was totally free with the ball in the 36th minute. In the 45th minute, Cristian Sancho hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. In the 46th match minute, Ecuador was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Camilo Gisbert to maneuver through the defense. Argentinos Juniors's Mats Falch shoveled away a really nice long shot in the 47th minute of play. The shot was stopped by Julio Vera but with some difficulty.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Daniel Zorita to make the kick off. If Daniel Zorita had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 54th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 59thth minute of the game Sven de Zwaan who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Ecuador's Julio Vera was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. Julio Vera showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Sven de Zwaan in the 63rd minute of the match. The audience was convinced that Sven de Zwaan's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Julio Vera was relentless in the 63rd minute of the game. Argentinos Juniors's Rigoberto Nazario proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 66th minute of the match, managed to save Argentinos Juniors from getting a goal against them. An unexpectedly hard shot by Petruț Fințescu in the 68th minute of play forced Ecuador's goalkeeper Julio Vera to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Julio Vera stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Petruț Fințescu's shot from short distance in the 70th minute. In the 72nd minute Cristian Sancho shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Rigoberto Nazario saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. 72 minutes into the match, Argentinos Juniors's goal looked a bit too open when Cristian Sancho came free, but Rigoberto Nazario reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. With a little luck, Argentinos Juniors's Rigoberto Nazario got control of the ball when Agustín Saelices tried to sneak it across the goal line. The attack was good, but when Agustín Saelices in the 73rd minute was about to shoot he didn't kick quite good enough and the ball went high over goal. Julio Vera stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Sven de Zwaan's shot from short distance in the 83rd minute. Julio Vera made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Petruț Fințescu in the 85th minute of play. After 85 played minutes Argentinos Juniors got a freekick which was hit by Mats Falch. Rigoberto Nazario took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Cristian Sancho, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 89th match minute, Ecuador was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Antonio Arias to maneuver through the defense. In the 90th minute, Mats Falch 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. If Ruperto Matei had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 94th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. When the match was over Ecuador could go home with a victory in their luggage, having controlled the game far better than Argentinos Juniors throughout the match.