Challenge

Estadio Monumental
Spectators: 40 (Terracing: 31, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when Romulo Casado kicked off to start the match. Cristian Sancho scored 0-1 in the 4th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Genaro Quiroga, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. When Romulo Casado came up free with the goalie in the 7th minute, the River Plate 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 Romulo Casado couldn't finish the play. The audience was convinced that Daniel Zorita's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Genaro Quiroga was relentless in the 13th minute of the game. In the 14th minute Ecuador were awarded a corner. Daniel Zorita went to the cornerflag to take it. River Plate's Genaro Quiroga played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Cristian Sancho in the 17th minute of play. Genaro Quiroga made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Cristian Sancho in the 19th minute of play. 23 minutes into the match, River Plate's goal looked a bit too open when Luis Andino came free, but Genaro Quiroga reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. The crowd rose to their feet as River Plate's Romulo Casado slotted home a wonderful shot that went in to the left of Julio Vera. That made the score 1-1 after 25 minutes of play. In the 34thth minute of the game Romulo Casado 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. After 37 minutes Ecuador's defender was forced to head the ball over the line for a corner. It was Eleuterio Efraim who took care of the corner kick. With a little luck, Ecuador's Julio Vera got control of the ball when Silvestre Berdoi tried to sneak it across the goal line. If Daniel Zorita had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 41st minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Daniel Zorita in the 43rd minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Genaro Quiroga prevented the ball from getting in the gole. In the 43rd minute, Cristian Sancho hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. The first half was very even, with the score at 1-1 when the whistle went for half-time. The players welcomed the break and quickly retired to the dressing rooms.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Daniel Zorita to make the kick off. Daniel Zorita's shot when he came free in front of the goal in the 51stth minute, Genaro Quiroga skillfully showed off with a save to what seemed to be an obvious goal. When River Plate's Romulo Casado in the 53rd minute got a chance for a shot 53rd didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Ecuador's goalie prevented a goal. Julio Vera didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Romulo Casado went, in the 55th minute, to the upper right corner, 2-1 was the resulting score. Daniel Zorita's shot straight on target was not completely harmless. The ball had pretty good speed, but Genaro Quiroga firmly grabbed it by the left post. 64 minutes into the game, Romulo Casado cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 3-1. Julio Vera was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. In the 67th minute Romulo Casado 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. Julio Vera showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Romulo Casado, who was totally free with the ball in the 74th minute. River Plate made a substitution. Godfredo Rioja replaced Eleuterio Efraim. River Plate made a substitution. Nemesio Azeari replaced Erik Albuquerque. River Plate made a substitution. Henrikh Vartanyan replaced Mauricio Tiniebra. With his leg Genaro Quiroga managed to avoid a goal in the 83rdth minute, when Ecuador's Daniel Zorita fired away a shot with a lot of spin towards his right hand side. Julio Vera stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Romulo Casado's shot from short distance in the 87th minute. When River Plate's Romulo Casado in the 87th minute got a chance for a shot 87th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Ecuador's goalie prevented a goal. Genaro Quiroga made an important save on a dangerous shot by Felix Montenegro in the 89th minute. In the 90th match minute, Ecuador was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Primitivo Andino to maneuver through the defense. 92 minutes into the match, Ecuador's goal looked a bit too open when Romulo Casado came free, but Julio Vera reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Juan Sebastián Puig lost his temper 94 minutes into the game and shoved another player to the ground. He was immediately shown a red card. The referee blew the whistle for a penalty in the 94th minute of the game. One of Ecuador:s players had nearly got his shirt torn off by an opponent while getting free in front of River Plate:s goal. The River Plate support was delighted with a win in a match that could easily have ended differently.