Challenge

FC NATIONAL ARENA
Spectators: 44 (Terracing: 34, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) Daniel Zorita started the match with the kick off in front of an excited audience. After a rather tough play, Ecuador's Luis Andino got a free kick in the 3rd minute. Paraskevas Sorin hit a great freekick 5 minutes into the match. In the 7th minute Cristian Sancho shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Bogdan Lobonț saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Bogdan Lobonț 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 8th minute. If Cristian Sancho had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 10th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. 12 minutes into the match, FC NATIONAL's goal looked a bit too open when Felix Montenegro came free, but Bogdan Lobonț reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. If Phaiakes Paraskevopoulos had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 17th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Antonio Arias during the 19th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. With a little luck, Ecuador's Julio Vera got control of the ball when Octavian Popescu tried to sneak it across the goal line. If Cristian Sancho had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 28th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After a defensive mix-up in FC NATIONAL's zone, Daniel Zorita stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Bogdan Lobonț 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. After having played for 31 minutes, Luis Andino managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Ecuador's supporters crossed their fingers, but Luis Andino was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. 33 minutes into the match, FC NATIONAL's goal looked a bit too open when Agustín Saelices came free, but Bogdan Lobonț reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Daniel Zorita received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 40th minute. Bogdan Lobonț tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. In the 45th minute Apostolis Polychronopoulos 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. Agustín Saelices hit a great freekick 47 minutes into the match. The first half was very even, with the score at 0-0 when the whistle went for half-time. The players welcomed the break and quickly retired to the dressing rooms.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Octavian Popescu was the one to do the kick off. The audience was convinced that Octavian Popescu's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Julio Vera was relentless in the 51st minute of the game. In the 51stth minute of the game Octavian Popescu 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. Phaiakes Paraskevopoulos received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 54th minute. Julio Vera tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. The supporters of Ecuador booed when FC NATIONAL was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 63 match minutes in a wonderful position. Aiakos Karahalios didn't get a good kick on the ball. 64 minutes into the match, Ecuador's Daniel Zorita broke free and took a long shot that unfortunately flew wide. A fine initiative that could have resulted in a goal. Bogdan Lobonț took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Cristian Sancho, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. A collision led to Ecuador getting a freekick after 70 minutes play. Cristian Sancho hit a great ball. Bogdan Lobonț made an important save on a dangerous shot by Daniel Zorita in the 72nd minute. After some careless play in the Ecuador defense, Akestes Bentihavas kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Julio Vera. The Ecuador fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Julio Vera should have stopped the shot. In the 79th minute Octavian Popescu 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. After 82 played minutes FC NATIONAL got a freekick which was hit by Akestes Bentihavas. The audience thought a goal was coming when Daniel Zorita got free with Bogdan Lobonț in the 83rd minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Ecuador's attacker deliberately struck the ball against an opponent to win a corner for his team. The corner was taken by Daniel Zorita in the 84th minute. 86 minutes into the match, Ecuador's goal looked a bit too open when Apostolis Polychronopoulos came free, but Julio Vera reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Octavian Popescu in the 87th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Julio Vera prevented the ball from getting in the gole. In the 89th minute FC NATIONAL were awarded a corner. Isidoro Heriberto went to the cornerflag to take it. Julio Vera took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Octavian Popescu, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. After a rather tough play, Ecuador's Camilo Gisbert got a free kick in the 94th minute. In the 94th minute, Octavian Popescu ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Julio Vera was frozen by the shot and now it was 2-0.