Challenge

Azadi Stadium
Spectators: 45 (Terracing: 35, 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. 2 minutes into the match, Ecuador's Cristian Sancho sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Santos Perez narrowly saved just below the crossbar. 5 minutes had been played when some careless play by Ecuador's defense caused the ball to cross the line for a corner. Arden Poulin was slow to take the kick. During this time Persepolis F.C.'s players had a chance to rest. Persepolis F.C.'s Abraham Dutton 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. The supporters of Persepolis F.C. booed when Ecuador was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 7 match minutes in a wonderful position. Cristian Sancho didn't get a good kick on the ball. 10 minutes into the match, Ecuador's Daniel Zorita sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Santos Perez narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Julio Vera took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Avery Merrill, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. 18 minutes into the match, Persepolis F.C.'s goal looked a bit too open when Daniel Zorita came free, but Santos Perez reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. If Daniel Zorita had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 30th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Julio Vera made a fantastic save in the 31st minute, when Léopold Castro sent off a good shot on target. Santos Perez made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Daniel Zorita in the 32nd minute of play. Daniel Zorita struck a weak shot in the 33rd minute. Santos Perez didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Ecuador. The audience thought a goal was coming when Léopold Castro got free with Julio Vera in the 42nd minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. A collision led to Ecuador getting a freekick after 43 minutes play. Luis Andino hit a great ball. Disappointed in the 0-1 score, the home team went to the dressing room to adjust tactics for the second half.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Léopold Castro to strike the kick off in the second half. With a little luck, Persepolis F.C.'s Santos Perez got control of the ball when Cristian Sancho tried to sneak it across the goal line. Arden Poulin might have been able to make a better finish in the 53rd minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Julio Vera. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Arden Poulin ran back to his position shaking his head. Julio Vera showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Avery Merrill, who was totally free with the ball in the 54th minute. Santos Perez made a fantastic save in the 62nd minute, when Cristian Sancho sent off a good shot on target. Léopold Castro scored 1-1 in the 64th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Julio Vera, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. The audience was convinced that Léopold Castro's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Julio Vera was relentless in the 69th minute of the game. In the 73rd 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. In the 76th match minute, Ecuador was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Cristian Sancho to maneuver through the defense. In the 83rd minute, Cristian Sancho hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Daniel Zorita fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 89th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Santos Perez having to interfere. After having played for 92 minutes, Léopold Castro managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Persepolis F.C.'s supporters crossed their fingers, but Léopold Castro was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. After some fancy dribbling in the 94th minute, Daniel Zorita managed to get in a good position for a shot. Ecuador's supporters rose to their feet, but Daniel Zorita was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Santos Perez breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Persepolis F.C. succeeded in salvaging a draw, even though Ecuador had controlled the match.