National Team Friendly

National stadium
Spectators: 10300 (Terracing: 7725, Seating: 2369, VIP seats: 206) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Alejandro Espina started the match with the kick off. Ricardo Ceberiche made an important save on a dangerous shot by Roy Makaay in the 8th minute. Croatia's attacker deliberately struck the ball against an opponent to win a corner for his team. The corner was taken by John Terry in the 9th minute. In the 12th minute Alejandro Espina shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Nebojša Jerić saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Nebojša Jerić showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Alejandro Espina in the 17th minute of the match. Nebojša Jerić showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Alejandro Espina, who was totally free with the ball in the 22nd minute. In the 23rd minute, Roy Makaay 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. Croatia were awarded a corner in the 26th minute after Ecuador's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. John Terry took the corner. The corner ended in John Terry almost managing to get the ball behind the net, but Ecuador's Ricardo Ceberiche did a great save. Alejandro Espina blasted a shot towards the goal in the 29th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Nebojša Jerić having to make a save. Nebojša Jerić showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Alejandro Espina in the 29th minute of the match. Nebojša Jerić showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Alejandro Espina, who was totally free with the ball in the 31st minute. In the 36th minute, Angel Mena 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. After a defensive mix-up in Ecuador's zone, Roy Makaay stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Ricardo Ceberiche came out of the goal and Roy Makaay tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Ricardo Ceberiche didn't succeed in stopping the ball in the 45th minute, which inside left pole to 1-0. No-one was surprised that the home team were leading 1-0 at half-time.

Croatia's Nikola Vlašić was substituted for Marko Livaja. Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Roy Makaay to make the kick off. Ricardo Ceberiche showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Roy Makaay, who was totally free with the ball in the 55th minute. In the 59th minute Roy Makaay shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Ricardo Ceberiche saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Ecuador made a substitution. Xavier Zanetti replaced Urko Solbeida. In the 66th minute of the game Harry Maguire made a throw-in which Valter Malekin played forward. An unexpectedly hard shot by Roy Makaay in the 69th minute of play forced Ecuador's goalkeeper Ricardo Ceberiche to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. When Croatia's Roy Makaay in 74 game minutes managed to cut through with the ball in front of the goal, only having to shoot. Ricardo Ceberiche guarding the goal like a pit bull was extremely focused and managed to reach the ball just by the crossbar before it went in. Ricardo Ceberiche showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Nikola Vlašić, who was totally free with the ball in the 80th minute. In the 81st minute Croatia were awarded a corner. John Terry went to the cornerflag to take it. 83 minutes into the match, Ecuador's goal looked a bit too open when Nikola Vlašić came free, but Ricardo Ceberiche reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Nebojša Jerić took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Flavio Cifuentes, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 86th minute of the match Ecuador got a corner. Croatia's goalie ran out to the linesman to protest the call, but the linesman resolutely pointed his flag at the cornerflag. Umbruso Salvadios ran over to the corner to take the kick. Ecuador's Umbruso Salvadios was first on the ball when the corner was shot and he dangerously headed the ball towards goal, but Nebojša Jerić in the goal jumped up to prevent it from getting in. Flavio Cifuentes could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 87th minute of the match, but Nebojša Jerić made a huge save. Croatia's Nebojša Jerić proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 88th minute of the match, managed to save Croatia from getting a goal against them. Roy Makaay's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Ricardo Ceberiche read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 91st minute of play. 93 minutes into the match, Ecuador's goal looked a bit too open when Roy Makaay came free, but Ricardo Ceberiche reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line.