Challenge

Bolivar Stadium
Spectators: 50 (Terracing: 38, Seating: 11, VIP seats: 1) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Tedj Sellal took the kick off in the first half of the match. Afiz Ching showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Daniel Zorita in the 3rd minute of the match. 15 minutes into the match, Bolivar's goal looked a bit too open when Daniel Zorita came free, but Afiz Ching reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. 24 minutes into the match, Ecuador's goalkeeper Julio Vera had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Tedj Sellal. When Cristian Sancho came up free with the goalie in the 28th minute, the Ecuador 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 Cristian Sancho couldn't finish the play. If Cristian Sancho had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 29th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. The referee felt a red card was in order, 37 minutes into the game, when Antonio Arias put in a rough tackle. In a very dangerous position, a player in Ecuador fell when an opponent tried to get the ball from him in the 37th minute. Penalty! The goalkeeper, Julio Vera, was totally fooled by Bolivar's Patrik Stöckert, who 39 minutes into the game made a penalty shot that went in on the goalkeeper's left side. Bolivar were awarded a corner in the 43th minute after Ecuador's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Patrik Stöckert took the corner. Julio Vera showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Hamid Merah-Benida, who was totally free with the ball in the 45th minute. The away team players looked dejected as the walked off the pitch at half time. They had fought hard, but were still losing 1-0.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Cristian Sancho was the one to do the kick off. Julio Vera made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Bruno Secco in the 67th minute of play. Afiz Ching took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Cristian Sancho, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. 70 minutes had been played when some careless play by Bolivar'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. A collision led to Ecuador getting a freekick after 70 minutes play. Felix Montes hit a great ball. The corner ended in Luis Andino almost managing to get the ball behind the net, but Bolivar's Afiz Ching did a great save. Cristian Sancho blasted a shot towards the goal in the 79th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Afiz Ching having to make a save. After a defensive mix-up in Bolivar's zone, Cristian Sancho stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Afiz Ching came out of the goal and Cristian Sancho tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Cristian Sancho fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 94th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Afiz Ching having to interfere. The Bolivar support was delighted with a win in a match that could easily have ended differently.