Challenge

Estadio Olímpico
Spectators: 45 (Terracing: 35, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Toader Burca started the match with the kick off. 3 minutes into the match, Toader Burca had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Julio Vera. Ecuador's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Toader Burca was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 0-1. In the 9th minute, Daniel Zorita made a precise shot to the right of Leontin Racoviceanu. Romania's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 1-1. With a little luck, Romania's Leontin Racoviceanu got control of the ball when Cristian Sancho tried to sneak it across the goal line. Cristian Sancho's shot straight on target was not completely harmless. The ball had pretty good speed, but Leontin Racoviceanu firmly grabbed it by the left post. Toader Spirache sent away a hard shot on goal in the 27th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Julio Vera stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Toader Burca's shot from short distance in the 30th minute. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Toader Burca in the 31st managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Julio Vera saved Ecuador from getting behind. An unexpectedly hard shot by Damian Şerb in the 33rd minute of play forced Ecuador's goalkeeper Julio Vera to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. After some careless play in the Ecuador defense, Toader Burca 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. Cazimir Pătran took the ball and in the 41 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Julio Vera. Julio Vera dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 1-3.

Leontin Racoviceanu came out of the goal in the 52nd minute to try and stop a shot by Ecuador's Cristian Sancho. But to his dismay, Cristian Sancho quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 2-3. Cazimir Pătran received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 55th minute. Julio Vera tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Leontin Racoviceanu showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Cristian Sancho in the 62nd minute of the match. In the 65th minute Cristian Sancho shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Leontin Racoviceanu saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Cristian Firu's late challenge caught a Ecuador's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Cristian Firu helped the player get up and apologised. A collision led to Romania getting a freekick after 67 minutes play. Cristian Firu hit a great ball. An unexpectedly hard shot by Cazimir Pătran in the 73rd minute of play forced Ecuador's goalkeeper Julio Vera to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Toader Burca charged in rather forcefully in the 75th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Toader Burca the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. Toader Burca hit a great freekick 75 minutes into the match. Romania's Leontin Racoviceanu played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Cristian Sancho in the 77th minute of play. Daniel Zorita might have been able to make a better finish in the 79th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Leontin Racoviceanu. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Daniel Zorita ran back to his position shaking his head. Romania's Dumitru Panciu was substituted for Damian Şerb. Julio Vera stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Toader Burca's shot from short distance in the 82nd minute. A collision led to Romania getting a freekick after 83 minutes play. George Ghinescu hit a great ball. The supporters of Ecuador booed when Romania was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 85 match minutes in a wonderful position. Cazimir Pătran didn't get a good kick on the ball. An unexpectedly hard shot by Felix Montenegro in the 89th minute of play forced Romania's goalkeeper Leontin Racoviceanu to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Julio Vera showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Toader Burca, who was totally free with the ball in the 91st minute. After 92 minutes of play, Romania's Toader Burca made it 2-4 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Julio Vera was left in no man's land by his defense there! A collision led to Romania getting a freekick after 95 minutes play. Dumitru Panciu hit a great ball.