U23 World League

Octavio Hondo
Spectators: 7526 (Terracing: 5645, Seating: 1731, VIP seats: 150) Leones FC's Martin Asier 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. Tomas Pando made an important save on a dangerous shot by Javier Richie in the 4th minute. Javier Richie's shot straight on target was not completely harmless. The ball had pretty good speed, but Tomas Pando firmly grabbed it by the left post. Zeruko Freije's late challenge caught a Leones FC's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Zeruko Freije helped the player get up and apologised. Zeruko Freije kicked well hit freekick during the 6th minute of the match. 7 minutes into the match, Liga de Quito's goal looked a bit too open when Martin Asier came free, but Tomas Pando reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. The referee felt a red card was in order, 11 minutes into the game, when Mateo Cancel put in a rough tackle. 11 minutes into the game, one of Liga de Quito:s players got tackled near the goal, and the referee blew for a penalty. A collision led to Liga de Quito getting a freekick after 16 minutes play. Zeruko Freije hit a great ball. With his leg Tomas Pando managed to avoid a goal in the 17thth minute, when Leones FC's Martin Asier fired away a shot with a lot of spin towards his right hand side. After some careless play in the Leones FC defense, Valdo Aroztegui kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Aureliano Obeko. The Leones FC fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Aureliano Obeko should have stopped the shot. An unexpectedly hard shot by Leonardo Poz in the 22nd minute of play forced Liga de Quito's goalkeeper Tomas Pando to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. A collision led to Liga de Quito getting a freekick after 27 minutes play. Urbano Pacio hit a great ball. Cruz Guia might have been able to make a better finish in the 37th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Aureliano Obeko. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Cruz Guia ran back to his position shaking his head. Aureliano Obeko made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Cruz Guia in the 37th minute of play. Thanks to some nice moves Martin Asier could shoot a difficult shot in the 41st minute, which Tomas Pando however easily saved by the left post. When Vidal Cismado fell near the penalty area in the 46th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Liga de Quito's protests and gave Vidal Cismado a yellow card for diving instead. When Eduardo Mascareñas fell near the penalty area in the 48th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Liga de Quito's protests and gave Eduardo Mascareñas a yellow card for diving instead. In the 48th minute, one of Liga de Quito:s players had the ball in front of the goal but got pushed and fell. The referee felt it was an obvious case and blew a penalty for Liga de Quito. No-one was surprised that the home team were leading 2-1 at half-time.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Nestor Ibaute stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Martin Asier in the 55th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Tomas Pando saved Liga de Quito from getting behind. After having played for 57 minutes, Martin Asier managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Leones FC's supporters crossed their fingers, but Martin Asier was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. In the 62nd minute Emiliano Faro shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Tomas Pando saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. An unexpectedly hard shot by Nestor Ibaute in the 63rd minute of play forced Leones FC's goalkeeper Aureliano Obeko to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Jaime Mundo kicked well hit freekick during the 64th minute of the match. In the 69th minute, Leones FC's goalie took a deep sigh of relief after Valdo Aroztegui fired away a hard shot that went just outside the left post. After some fancy dribbling in the 73rd minute, Javier Richie managed to get in a good position for a shot. Leones FC's supporters rose to their feet, but Javier Richie was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Tomas Pando breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. In the 75th minute Martin Asier shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Tomas Pando saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. 77 minutes into the match, Liga de Quito's goal looked a bit too open when Martin Asier came free, but Tomas Pando reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. When the match had gone on for 94 minutes, Nestor Ibaute took a quick shot and it went in 3-2 without a chance for Aureliano Obeko to make any attempt to save it. Gaspar Sabin received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 97th minute. Tomas Pando tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. For all the effort they put into the match, the Liga de Quito players left disappointed. They had fought hard, but couldn't break down the home team's defense. The match ended in a win for Leones FC.