Challenge

Old Trafford
Spectators: 43 (Terracing: 33, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) Ecuador's Daniel Zorita 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 7th minute, Kosmas Simertzidis made a precise shot to the right of Julio Vera. Ecuador's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 1-0. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Orestis Massoutis during the 11th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. Orestis Massoutis hit a great freekick 11 minutes into the match. Iosif Puric took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Luis Andino, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Primitivo Andino kicked well hit freekick during the 13th minute of the match. Erwin-Alexander Verduyckt struck a weak shot in the 14th minute. Julio Vera didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Manchester United. In the 20th minute, Daniel Zorita 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. Cristian Sancho sent away a hard shot on goal in the 22nd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After having played for 24 minutes, Daniel Zorita managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Ecuador's supporters crossed their fingers, but Daniel Zorita was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Kosmas Simertzidis kicked well hit freekick during the 25th minute of the match. Iosif Puric showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Cristian Sancho in the 26th minute of the match. After a rather tough play, Ecuador's Primitivo Andino got a free kick in the 29th minute. Luis Andino scored 1-1 in the 31st match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Iosif Puric, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. Iosif Puric made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Cristian Sancho in the 37th minute of play. In the 39th minute Orestis Massoutis 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 44 played minutes Manchester United got a freekick which was hit by Pantelis Papaiakovou. Julio Vera was a little too slow when Ivan Copil got a fine hit on the ball which went right into the goal in the 46th minute. The score was now 2-1. No-one was surprised that the home team were leading 2-1 at half-time.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Ivan Copil was the one to do the kick off. Cristian Sancho sent away a hard shot on goal in the 51st minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. 55 minutes into the match, Ecuador's goal looked a bit too open when Ivan Copil came free, but Julio Vera reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After 56 minutes Ecuador's defender was forced to head the ball over the line for a corner. It was Erwin-Alexander Verduyckt who took care of the corner kick. Manchester United's Erwin-Alexander Verduyckt was first on the ball when the corner was shot and he dangerously headed the ball towards goal, but Julio Vera in the goal jumped up to prevent it from getting in. If Orestis Massoutis had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 58th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 66th minute Luis Andino shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Iosif Puric saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Iosif Puric showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Cristian Sancho, who was totally free with the ball in the 69th minute. Julio Vera made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Ivan Copil in the 70th minute of play. Cristian Sancho received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 77th minute. Iosif Puric tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Iosif Puric made an important save on a dangerous shot by Daniel Zorita in the 79th minute. Daniel Zorita could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 81st minute of the match, but Iosif Puric made a huge save. Manchester United's Iosif Puric proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 83rd minute of the match, managed to save Manchester United from getting a goal against them. If Cristian Sancho had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 85th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After 87th play minutes Ivan Copil shot 4-1, a short shot which went by Julio Vera and just under the crossbar into goal. Julio Vera showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Orestis Massoutis, who was totally free with the ball in the 91st minute. Julio Vera made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Ivan Copil in the 92nd minute of play. Ecuador's supporters were dissatisfied at the end of the match because Manchester United had won, even though Ecuador had held more of the ball.