National Team Friendly

National stadium
Spectators: 10300 (Terracing: 7725, Seating: 2369, VIP seats: 206) Rodney Cunningham started the match with the kick off in front of an excited audience. Ecuador's Johnny Ibarra played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Dylan Browne in the 8th minute of play. Terry Mayfield struck a weak shot in the 10th minute. Johnny Ibarra didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Northern Ireland. Johnny Ibarra showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Rodney Cunningham, who was totally free with the ball in the 13th minute. A nice corner shot did that Ortiz Apellaniz got away a dangerous shot. Despite this Phillip Woodhall quite easily got ahold of the ball to make the save. Phillip Woodhall didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Alejandro Espina went, in the 21st minute, to the upper right corner, 0-1 was the resulting score. 23 minutes into the game, Alejandro Espina cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 0-2. Phillip Woodhall was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. Alejandro Espina blasted a shot towards the goal in the 27th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Phillip Woodhall having to make a save. In the 27th minute Alejandro Espina shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Phillip Woodhall saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Through an outstanding action, after 29 minutes, Johnny Ibarra successfully got his hands on the ball before it slid into the goal at the right post. Alejandro Espina sent away a hard shot on goal in the 37th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Jim Mannell made in the 43rd minute of the game a quick throw-in and Ty Hislop immediately put the ball in play. After 45 minutes of play, Ecuador's Alejandro Espina made it 0-3 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Phillip Woodhall was left in no man's land by his defense there! After the first half Ecuador were leading 0-3. They had played with great self confidence throughout the first half and fully deserved their lead.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Alejandro Espina made a kick off. Alejandro Espina blasted a shot towards the goal in the 51st minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Phillip Woodhall having to make a save. 51 minutes into the match, Northern Ireland's goal looked a bit too open when Alejandro Espina came free, but Phillip Woodhall reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Johnny Ibarra took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Rodney Cunningham, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. When Rodney Cunningham fell near the penalty area in the 55th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Northern Ireland's protests and gave Rodney Cunningham a yellow card for diving instead. After 55 played minutes Northern Ireland got a freekick which was hit by Rodney Cunningham. Ecuador made a substitution. Jérémie Sarmiento replaced Alejandro Espina. In the 56th match minute, Northern Ireland was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Rodney Cunningham to maneuver through the defense. After a rather tough play, Northern Ireland's Mitch Pearson got a free kick in the 57th minute. 63 minutes into the match, Ecuador's goal looked a bit too open when Rodney Cunningham came free, but Johnny Ibarra reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Jérémie Sarmiento scored 0-4 in the 65th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Phillip Woodhall, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. Northern Ireland made a substitution. Derek Findley replaced Ty Hislop. Northern Ireland made a substitution. Kiera Archer replaced Rodney Cunningham. Ecuador's Angel Mena was substituted for Lorenzo Acutain. With a little luck, Northern Ireland's Phillip Woodhall got control of the ball when Washington Piedrahita tried to sneak it across the goal line. Jérémie Sarmiento received a nice pass, split the defenders, and ran untouched towards the goal. Phillip Woodhall came out and tried to block the shot, but Jérémie Sarmiento slotted it home off the left post making it 0-5 in the 72nd minute. Johnny Ibarra made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Derek Findley in the 75th minute of play. When Northern Ireland's Derek Findley in the 75th minute got a chance for a shot 75th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Ecuador's goalie prevented a goal. The Ecuador fans' excitement grew in the 78th match minute when Ecuador's Washington Piedrahita looked to have a clear shot with the ball near the goal. The shot wasn't hard, but the ball still rolled over the goal line to make it 0-6 before the goalkeeper had a chance to intervene. Joey England took a chance and fired a shot far from the goal in the 85th minute, but it turned out to be a dangerous situation for Johnny Ibarra. Ecuador's goalkeeper really had to stretch himself to stop the ball from crossing the goal line. Phillip Woodhall showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Washington Piedrahita, who was totally free with the ball in the 89th minute. Ecuador's supporters were very happy and cheered loudly because their team had won after a very close match.