Challenge

FC NATIONAL ARENA
Spectators: 44 (Terracing: 34, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) The mood of the audience was pleasant when Octavian Popescu made the kick off which started today's match. The supporters of FC NATIONAL booed when Ecuador was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 4 match minutes in a wonderful position. Cristian Sancho didn't get a good kick on the ball. Octavian Popescu in the 5thth 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. 8 minutes into the game, Cristian Sancho cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 0-1. Bogdan Lobonț was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. Cristian Sancho sent away a hard shot on goal in the 11th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Ecuador's Julio Vera played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Akestes Bentihavas in the 13th minute of play. After 14 played minutes FC NATIONAL got a freekick which was hit by Iulian Miu. Bogdan Lobonț made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Cristian Sancho in the 17th minute of play. Julio Vera showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Octavian Popescu in the 20th minute of the match. In the 23rd match minute, Ecuador was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Agustín Saelices to maneuver through the defense. Agustín Saelices scored 0-2 in the 25th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Bogdan Lobonț, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. An unexpectedly hard shot by Octavian Popescu in the 29th minute of play forced Ecuador's goalkeeper Julio Vera to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Julio Vera made an important save on a dangerous shot by Octavian Popescu in the 30th minute. Bogdan Lobonț made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Cristian Sancho in the 37th minute of play. In the 37th minute, Cristian Sancho left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The Ecuador fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 0-3. Bogdan Lobonț made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Daniel Zorita in the 40th minute of play. Bogdan Lobonț took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Daniel Zorita, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 43rd minute, Apostolis Polychronopoulos hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. In the 47th minute, Daniel Zorita ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Bogdan Lobonț was frozen by the shot and now it was 0-5. After the first half Ecuador were leading 0-5. They had played with great self confidence throughout the first half and fully deserved their lead.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Daniel Zorita to make the kick off. Julio Vera showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Apostolis Polychronopoulos, who was totally free with the ball in the 53rd minute. Felix Montenegro sent away a hard shot on goal in the 56th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. With a little luck, FC NATIONAL's Bogdan Lobonț got control of the ball when Cristian Sancho tried to sneak it across the goal line. A hard shot 66 in the game by Cristian Sancho from a close distance when the talented Bogdan Lobonț managed to make a qualified save. FC NATIONAL's players were relieved. Cristian Sancho who was well placed in front of the goal fired away a dangerous shot that in the 66thth minute tested the skills of Bogdan Lobonț when he managed to save the team from getting behind. 69 minutes into the match, FC NATIONAL's goalkeeper Bogdan Lobonț had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Cristian Sancho. Daniel Zorita received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 75th minute. Bogdan Lobonț tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Bogdan Lobonț made a fantastic save in the 76th minute, when Cristian Sancho sent off a good shot on target. 77 minutes had been played when some careless play by FC NATIONAL'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. After a defensive mix-up in Ecuador's zone, Phaiakes Paraskevopoulos stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Julio Vera came out of the goal and Phaiakes Paraskevopoulos tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. 82 minutes into the match, FC NATIONAL's goalkeeper Bogdan Lobonț had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Cristian Sancho. Cristian Sancho received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 85th minute. Bogdan Lobonț tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Bogdan Lobonț was in the perfect position, and the defense had done a good job marking him, but Felix Montenegro showcased his skills and made a perfect shot to score 0-6 in the 86 minute of play. In the 89th minute the ball was on its way in behind FC NATIONAL's goalkeeper Bogdan Lobonț, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. 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 90th minute. Akestes Bentihavas kicked well hit freekick during the 92nd minute of the match. Ecuador were awarded a corner in the 94th minute after FC NATIONAL's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Daniel Zorita took the corner. The supporters of FC NATIONAL booed when Ecuador was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 96 match minutes in a wonderful position. Luis Andino didn't get a good kick on the ball. When Octavian Popescu came up free with the goalie in the 97th minute, the FC NATIONAL fans jumped to their feet. But the shot missed the goal by a fraction of an inch, and the fans sat back down disappointed that Octavian Popescu couldn't finish the play.