Challenge

Mineirão
Spectators: 40 (Terracing: 31, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Gwidon Cwojdak started the match with the kick off. Arthur Bufi made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Daniel Zorita in the 5th minute of play. 9 minutes into the match, Cruzeiro Esporte Clube's goal looked a bit too open when Daniel Zorita came free, but Arthur Bufi reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Ecuador's Julio Vera proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 19th minute of the match, managed to save Ecuador from getting a goal against them. In the 20th minute of the match Cruzeiro Esporte Clube got a corner. Ecuador's goalie ran out to the linesman to protest the call, but the linesman resolutely pointed his flag at the cornerflag. Oswaldo Maranhense ran over to the corner to take the kick. Cristian Sancho struck a weak shot in the 22nd minute. Arthur Bufi didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Ecuador. After some fancy dribbling in the 28th minute, Felix Montenegro managed to get in a good position for a shot. Ecuador's supporters rose to their feet, but Felix Montenegro was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Arthur Bufi breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Daniel Zorita took the ball and in the 35 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Arthur Bufi. Arthur Bufi dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 1-1. After 39 minutes Cruzeiro Esporte Clube's defender was forced to head the ball over the line for a corner. It was Daniel Zorita who took care of the corner kick. The corner led Ecuador's Daniel Zorita to fire away a dangerous shot which Arthur Bufi despite some difficulties managed to get hold on the ball. Arthur Bufi took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Daniel Zorita, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side.

The wind increased when Daniel Zorita made the kick off in the second half. Cristian Sancho received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 52nd minute. Arthur Bufi tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. In the 54th minute, 余永川 made a precise shot to the right of Julio Vera. Ecuador's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 2-1. Arthur Bufi took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Cristian Sancho, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. 余永川's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Julio Vera read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 61st minute of play. After 63 minutes Ecuador's defender was forced to head the ball over the line for a corner. It was Oswaldo Maranhense who took care of the corner kick. After taking down the ball on Cruzeiro Esporte Clube's corner Oswaldo Maranhense fired away a hard shot, but the defenders efficiently covered the most dangerous angles and Julio Vera quite easily take care of the ball. In the 70th minute, Ecuador's Antonio Arias seemed to kick out at an opponent. The referee saw this and, surprisingly, showed Antonio Arias the red card, dismissing him from the pitch. The coaching staff of Ecuador protested bitterly, but the referee would have none of it, and Antonio Arias had no choice but to slowly walk off the pitch. Cruzeiro Esporte Clube made a substitution. Gualter Meirelles replaced Pedro Paulo Dante. Cruzeiro Esporte Clube's Cristi Saron was substituted for Oswaldo Maranhense. Luiz Guilherme Cearense did an outstanding performance 74 minutes into the match, when he by himself got past the opposing team's defense and with a quick scored 3-1 to the right of an irritated Julio Vera in the goal. The audience thought a goal was coming when Cristian Sancho got free with Arthur Bufi in the 79th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. In the 83rd minute, 余永川 made a precise shot to the right of Julio Vera. Ecuador's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 4-1. Cruzeiro Esporte Clube's Olavo Quadros was substituted for Enrique de Mendonça. 87 minutes into the match, Cruzeiro Esporte Clube's goal looked a bit too open when Cristian Sancho came free, but Arthur Bufi reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Felix Montenegro charged in rather forcefully in the 97th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Felix Montenegro the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. After a rather tough play, Ecuador's Felix Montenegro got a free kick in the 97th minute. The Cruzeiro Esporte Clube support was delighted with a win in a match that could easily have ended differently.