Challenge

Saitama Stadium
Spectators: 40 (Terracing: 31, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) If Germano Romero had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 3rd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Benito Sanz made a fantastic save in the 9th minute, when Jorge Fantini sent off a good shot on target. An unexpectedly hard shot by Caetano Moreira in the 11th minute of play forced Costa Rica's goalkeeper Benito Sanz to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 12th minute, Eliézer Paraense hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. After a rather tough play, Costa Rica's Aaron Alcocer got a free kick in the 14th minute. Alan Moruga hit a great freekick 20 minutes into the match. After 28 minutes, Henrique Nóbrega mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the THESPA KUSATSU GUNMA and the Costa Rica players grew even worse after the yellow card. Abel Carballo hit a great freekick 34 minutes into the match. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Angelo Mattos during the 37th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. In the 38th match minute, THESPA KUSATSU GUNMA was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Angelo Mattos to maneuver through the defense. Af the end of the first half the score was 1-0. The first half had gone as expected for the home team.

The wind increased when Axel Tasis made the kick off in the second half. The supporters of THESPA KUSATSU GUNMA booed when Costa Rica was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 50 match minutes in a wonderful position. Aaron Alcocer didn't get a good kick on the ball. Benito Sanz showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Germano Romero in the 52nd minute of the match. In the 55th minute, Costa Rica's Efrain Moruga seemed to kick out at an opponent. The referee saw this and, surprisingly, showed Efrain Moruga the red card, dismissing him from the pitch. The coaching staff of Costa Rica protested bitterly, but the referee would have none of it, and Efrain Moruga had no choice but to slowly walk off the pitch. In the 55th minute, one of Costa Rica:s players had the ball in front of the goal but got pushed and fell. The referee felt it was an obvious case and blew a penalty for Costa Rica. Jorge Fantini did an outstanding performance 58 minutes into the match, when he by himself got past the opposing team's defense and with a quick scored 2-0 to the right of an irritated Benito Sanz in the goal. Angelo Mattos fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 61st minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Benito Sanz having to interfere. THESPA KUSATSU GUNMA made a substitution. Ismael de Lara replaced Germano Romero. Costa Rica's Benito Sanz played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Jorge Fantini in the 64th minute of play. Benito Sanz made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Angelo Mattos in the 65th minute of play. In the 68th match minute, THESPA KUSATSU GUNMA was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Giovanni Furtado to maneuver through the defense. After a rather tough play, THESPA KUSATSU GUNMA's Henrique Nóbrega got a free kick in the 72nd minute. THESPA KUSATSU GUNMA's Willian de Alcântara played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Eliseo Noboa in the 74th minute of play. Benito Sanz showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Jorge Fantini in the 77th minute of the match. In the 86th minute Ismael de Lara 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. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Jorge Fantini in the 93rd managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Benito Sanz saved Costa Rica from getting behind. Willian de Alcântara showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Eliseo Noboa, who was totally free with the ball in the 96th minute. Giovanni Furtado kicked well hit freekick during the 96th minute of the match.