Challenge

Marcus Aurelius
Spectators: 40 (Terracing: 31, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) Costa Rica's Axel Tasis 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. Costa Rica's Benito Sanz proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 3rd minute of the match, managed to save Costa Rica from getting a goal against them. In the 5th minute Claudiu Popescu 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. Benito Sanz showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Felix Zbora, who was totally free with the ball in the 11th minute. Eliseo Noboa fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 14th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Olimpiu Oncescu having to interfere. The supporters of Stoicii booed when Costa Rica was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 20 match minutes in a wonderful position. Lautaro Puig didn't get a good kick on the ball. Benito Sanz made an important save on a dangerous shot by Mugur Aldulea in the 24th minute. 30 minutes into the game, Mugur Aldulea lined in a short shot 2-0 behind a frustrated Benito Sanz. In the 35th minute, Lautaro Puig ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Olimpiu Oncescu was frozen by the shot and now it was 2-1. An unexpectedly hard shot by Axel Tasis in the 38th minute of play forced Stoicii's goalkeeper Olimpiu Oncescu to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Eliseo Noboa received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 39th minute. Olimpiu Oncescu tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. After a rather tough play, Costa Rica's Eliseo Noboa got a free kick in the 42nd minute. The audience thought a goal was coming when Felix Zbora got free with Benito Sanz in the 43rd minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Alexander Carballo during the 45th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. After a rather tough play, Costa Rica's Alexander Carballo got a free kick in the 45th minute. Stoicii's Mugur Aldulea got a good chance for a goal in the 46th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Costa Rica's Benito Sanz proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 48th minute of the match, managed to save Costa Rica from getting a goal against them. No-one was surprised that the home team were leading 2-1 at half-time.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Claudiu Popescu to strike the kick off in the second half. Benito Sanz stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Mugur Aldulea's shot from short distance in the 52nd minute. 57 minutes into the match, Claudiu Popescu had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Benito Sanz. Costa Rica's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Claudiu Popescu was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 3-1. If Lautaro Puig had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 62nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Axel Tasis received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 69th minute. Olimpiu Oncescu tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. In the 70th match minute, Stoicii was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Alexandru Zaki to maneuver through the defense. The supporters of Costa Rica booed when Stoicii was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 76 match minutes in a wonderful position. Tudor Baran didn't get a good kick on the ball. Aaron Alcocer kicked well hit freekick during the 86th minute of the match. The audience was convinced that Claudiu Popescu's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Benito Sanz was relentless in the 93rd minute of the game. Costa Rica's Axel Tasis got a good chance for a goal in the 94th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Stoicii walked away with a well-earned victory that was much celebrated by the crowd.