Challenge

Arena LUCCA
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. Axel Tasis started the match with the kick off. In the 2nd minute, Lucca F.C's Alessandro Cardoso ran free of his marker and smoothly shot the ball into the goal behind Benito Sanz. Benito Sanz yelled at his defense, as they had left him out to dry. 1-0. 5 minutes into the match, Lautaro Puig had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Juninho Pena. Lucca F.C's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Lautaro Puig was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 1-1. The audience thought a goal was coming when Igor Cabral got free with Benito Sanz in the 8th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. 10 minutes into the match, Costa Rica's goalkeeper Benito Sanz had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Igor Cabral. Costa Rica's defense didn't have a chance, in the 16th minute, when Iuri Hoffmann scored to the left of an out of position Benito Sanz, making the score, 2-1. After 19 played minutes Costa Rica got a freekick which was hit by Lautaro Puig. If Alessandro Cardoso had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 21st minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. 25 minutes into the game, Olavo Arósio was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Lucca F.C's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Costa Rica the free kick. In the 25th minute, Olavo Arósio hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Adelino Domingues took the ball and in the 32 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Benito Sanz. Benito Sanz dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 3-1. 37 minutes into the match, Costa Rica's goal looked a bit too open when Iuri Hoffmann came free, but Benito Sanz reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After having played for 39 minutes, Adelino Domingues managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Lucca F.C's supporters crossed their fingers, but Adelino Domingues was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. If Adelino Domingues had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 44th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. The away team players looked dejected as the walked off the pitch at half time. They had fought hard, but were still losing 3-1.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Alessandro Cardoso to strike the kick off in the second half. Lautaro Puig could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 53rd minute of the match, but Juninho Pena made a huge save. After a rather tough play, Costa Rica's Efrain Moruga got a free kick in the 54th minute. When Alessandro Cardoso came up free with the goalie in the 56th minute, the Lucca F.C 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 Alessandro Cardoso couldn't finish the play. Lautaro Puig fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 59th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Juninho Pena having to interfere. Benito Sanz made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Alessandro Cardoso in the 61st minute of play. A collision led to Costa Rica getting a freekick after 62 minutes play. Alan Moruga hit a great ball. A collision led to Lucca F.C getting a freekick after 65 minutes play. Olavo Arósio hit a great ball. Costa Rica's Benito Sanz played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Rudy Letsch in the 68th minute of play. 71 minutes into the game, Efrain Moruga threw the ball into play from the sideline. Lucca F.C's Olavo Arósio quickly snatched the ball and retained possesion. In the 73rd minute Adelino Domingues shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Benito Sanz saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 78th minute, Alessandro Cardoso made a precise shot to the right of Benito Sanz. Costa Rica's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 4-1. Alessandro Cardoso received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 83rd minute. Benito Sanz tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. After having played for 85 minutes, Alessandro Cardoso managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Lucca F.C's supporters crossed their fingers, but Alessandro Cardoso was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Lucca F.C's defense didn't have a chance, in the 87th minute, when Eliseo Noboa scored to the left of an out of position Juninho Pena, making the score, 4-2. Benito Sanz took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Iuri Hoffmann, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side.