Challenge

Frederik Steiner
Spectators: 43 (Terracing: 33, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Apoena Ocaña got the match started through his kick off. In the 10thth minute of the game Apoena Ocaña 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. In the 12th match minute, Ecuador was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Cristian Sancho to maneuver through the defense. 20 minutes into the match, Rayo Tharkad's goal looked a bit too open when Luis Andino came free, but Rune Snäll reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. An unexpectedly hard shot by Cristian Sancho in the 22nd minute of play forced Rayo Tharkad's goalkeeper Rune Snäll to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Julio Vera made a fantastic save in the 23rd minute, when Manolo Lacorte sent off a good shot on target. In the 24th minute, Hondo Arratia fired away a shot on goal. He put a little to much spin on the ball and sent it just wide of the right post. Daniel Zorita recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 26th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. After a defensive mix-up in Rayo Tharkad's zone, Daniel Zorita stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Rune Snäll 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. Julio Vera showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Manolo Lacorte, who was totally free with the ball in the 31st minute. Rune Snäll made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Daniel Zorita in the 33rd minute of play. With a little luck, Ecuador's Julio Vera got control of the ball when Manolo Lacorte tried to sneak it across the goal line. Cristian Sancho scored 0-1 in the 38th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Rune Snäll, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. The crowd was extremely unhappy with the home team's performance in the first half. They were losing 0-1.

Rayo Tharkad's Adolfo Hevia was substituted for Hondo Arratia. Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Daniel Zorita to make the kick off. An unexpectedly hard shot by Antimo Negro in the 54th minute of play forced Ecuador's goalkeeper Julio Vera to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. An unexpectedly hard shot by Apoena Ocaña in the 56th minute of play forced Ecuador's goalkeeper Julio Vera to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Julio Vera showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Apoena Ocaña in the 57th minute of the match. In the 60th minute Manolo Lacorte 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. Rayo Tharkad made a substitution. Oihan Aguado replaced Feliciano Roig. Rayo Tharkad made a substitution. Macerio Caballero replaced Antimo Negro. The corner ended in Zumar Figueroa almost managing to get the ball behind the net, but Ecuador's Julio Vera did a great save. 65 minutes had been played when some careless play by Rayo Tharkad's defense caused the ball to cross the line for a corner. Daniel Zorita was slow to take the kick. During this time Ecuador's players had a chance to rest. Juan Sebastián Puig was in a good position and managed to take a shot, but he missed just to the outside of the post. Rune Snäll showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Cristian Sancho in the 67th minute of the match. 68 minutes had been played when some careless play by Rayo Tharkad's defense caused the ball to cross the line for a corner. Daniel Zorita was slow to take the kick. During this time Ecuador's players had a chance to rest. Daniel Zorita received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 69th minute. Rune Snäll tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. In the 71st match minute, Rayo Tharkad was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Humberto Leon to maneuver through the defense. Rayo Tharkad's Apoena Ocaña got a good chance for a goal in the 73rd minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. In the 75th minute Oihan Aguado 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. In the 77th minute Ecuador were awarded a corner. Daniel Zorita went to the cornerflag to take it. The corner went over the outstretched arms of Rayo Tharkad's goalie and right to Juan Sebastián Puig. He fired away a shot at goal, but the shot had too much spin, and it went just outside the goal. Rayo Tharkad's manager breathed a sigh of relief on the sidelines as his team had managed to escape an almost certain goal. Agustín Saelices received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 82nd minute. Rune Snäll tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. 83 minutes into the match, Ecuador's Cristian Sancho sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Rune Snäll narrowly saved just below the crossbar. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Manolo Lacorte in the 85th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Julio Vera saved Ecuador from getting behind. Juan Bermejo hit a great freekick 87 minutes into the match. After 89 played minutes Ecuador got a freekick which was hit by Antonio Arias. Rayo Tharkad's Rune Snäll proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 92nd minute of the match, managed to save Rayo Tharkad from getting a goal against them. In the 93rd minute Ecuador were awarded a corner. Daniel Zorita went to the cornerflag to take it. Luis Andino hit a great freekick 93 minutes into the match. Ecuador's fans were overjoyed with their teams well-earned victory and stayed in the stadium long after the final whistle to celebrate the win.