Challenge

Melates Arena
Spectators: 41 (Terracing: 32, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Norbert Rakowski took the kick off in the first half of the match. An unexpectedly hard shot by Axel Tasis in the 3rd minute of play forced MELATES F.C.'s goalkeeper Iason Plexioudas to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. The audience was convinced that Norbert Rakowski's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Benito Sanz was relentless in the 5th minute of the game. The supporters of Costa Rica booed when MELATES F.C. was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 6 match minutes in a wonderful position. Iraklis Leontokardos didn't get a good kick on the ball. After having played for 8 minutes, Norbert Rakowski managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. MELATES F.C.'s supporters crossed their fingers, but Norbert Rakowski was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Alan Moruga kicked well hit freekick during the 10th minute of the match. MELATES F.C.'s Iason Plexioudas played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Eliseo Noboa in the 12th minute of play. If Axel Tasis had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 24th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. 27 minutes into the game, Costa Rica's Axel Tasis nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Iason Plexioudas made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 0-1. MELATES F.C.'s Notis Mantarinakis managed, thanks to a brazen rush, stole the ball on a throw-in made by Hugo Ferrant in the 30 minute of the game. The supporters of Costa Rica booed when MELATES F.C. was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 31 match minutes in a wonderful position. Panos Chasiotis didn't get a good kick on the ball. Axel Tasis struck a weak shot in the 32nd minute. Iason Plexioudas didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Costa Rica. Lautaro Puig received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 34th minute. Iason Plexioudas tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Iraklis Leontokardos sent away a hard shot on goal in the 36th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Axel Tasis scored 0-2 in the 40th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Iason Plexioudas, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. Disappointed in the 0-2 score, the home team went to the dressing room to adjust tactics for the second half.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Axel Tasis to strike the kick off in the second half. MELATES F.C.'s Iason Plexioudas proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 52nd minute of the match, managed to save MELATES F.C. from getting a goal against them. 53 minutes into the match, MELATES F.C.'s goal looked a bit too open when Eliseo Noboa came free, but Iason Plexioudas reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After 57 played minutes Costa Rica got a freekick which was hit by Abel Carballo. After a rather tough play, MELATES F.C.'s Norbert Rakowski got a free kick in the 60th minute. Abel Carballo hit a great freekick 62 minutes into the match. MELATES F.C.'s Norbert Rakowski got a good chance for a goal in the 64th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. After having played for 70 minutes, Norbert Rakowski managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. MELATES F.C.'s supporters crossed their fingers, but Norbert Rakowski was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Dimosthenis Tzalakostas sent away a hard shot on goal in the 87th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Hugo Ferrant made in the 91st minute of the game a fairly good throw-in which was taken care of by Lautaro Puig. Although MELATES F.C. had been in control for most of the match, Costa Rica still came away with the win.