Challenge

Ciudad Universitaria
Spectators: 45 (Terracing: 35, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when Lorenzo Aimar kicked off to start the match. The referee felt a red card was in order, 5 minutes into the game, when Antonio Arias put in a rough tackle. When the match had been going on for 6 minutes, Cougars FC's Gualterio Pio got an opportunity to shoot a penalty. He stayed cool and waited for the goalkeeper to move, before he confidently shot the ball into the goal, to the left of Julio Vera. A collision led to Cougars FC getting a freekick after 8 minutes play. Ramon Rufo hit a great ball. Cougars FC's Fernando Abarca played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Cristian Sancho in the 10th minute of play. 22 minutes into the match, Cougars FC's goal looked a bit too open when Cristian Sancho came free, but Fernando Abarca reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Fernando Abarca showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Cristian Sancho in the 26th minute of the match. After 30 played minutes Cougars FC got a freekick which was hit by Bonifacio Valerio. Fernando Abarca made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Cristian Sancho in the 32nd minute of play. Daniel Zorita made a great header on Ecuador's corner, it was just that Cougars FC's Fernando Abarca managed to reach the ball for a save. In the 42ndth minute of the game Fabio Artal 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. No-one was surprised that the home team were leading 1-0 at half-time.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Cristian Sancho made a kick off. 51 minutes into the match, Cougars FC's goal looked a bit too open when Cristian Sancho came free, but Fernando Abarca reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. A collision led to Cougars FC getting a freekick after 55 minutes play. Gualterio Pio hit a great ball. In the 59th minute of the match Ecuador got a corner. Cougars FC's goalie ran out to the linesman to protest the call, but the linesman resolutely pointed his flag at the cornerflag. Daniel Zorita ran over to the corner to take the kick. Ecuador's Daniel Zorita was first on the ball when the corner was shot and he dangerously headed the ball towards goal, but Fernando Abarca in the goal jumped up to prevent it from getting in. Gualterio Pio received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 63rd minute. Julio Vera tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. 65 minutes into the game, Gualterio Pio was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Cougars FC's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Ecuador the free kick. Gualterio Pio kicked well hit freekick during the 65th minute of the match. With an all-out effort, Ecuador's Fernando Abarca threw himself towards the right post 67 minutes into the match and grabbed hold of the ball from Cristian Sancho, which otherwise would have been placed in the net. Ecuador were awarded a corner in the 68th minute after Cougars FC's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Daniel Zorita took the corner. With a little luck, Cougars FC's Fernando Abarca got control of the ball when Cristian Sancho tried to sneak it across the goal line. Teodosio Sendoa received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 76th minute. Julio Vera tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. An unexpectedly hard shot by Lorenzo Aimar in the 78th minute of play forced Ecuador's goalkeeper Julio Vera to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Teodosio Sendoa hit a great freekick 80 minutes into the match. Fernando Belarmo kicked well hit freekick during the 86th minute of the match. After some fancy dribbling in the 87th 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. Fernando Abarca breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Cougars FC's Fabio Artal got a good chance for a goal in the 93rd minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. 97 minutes had been played when some careless play by Cougars FC'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. The Cougars FC players were eager to celebrate when the final whistle sounded. They had somehow managed to win, even though the away team had held the majority of the possession.