Challenge

Estadio Nacional
Spectators: 44 (Terracing: 34, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) The mood of the audience was pleasant when Serafim de Carvalho made the kick off which started today's match. Costa Rica's Eliseo Noboa got a good chance for a goal in the 8th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Aaron Alcocer received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 11th minute. Mané França tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Lautaro Puig could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 13th minute of the match, but Mané França made a huge save. Mané França showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Eliseo Noboa in the 14th minute of the match. Fabinho Peixoto charged in rather forcefully in the 17th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Fabinho Peixoto the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. The supporters of Costa Rica booed when Atlanta United F.C. was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 17 match minutes in a wonderful position. Fabinho Peixoto didn't get a good kick on the ball. After having played for 20 minutes, Axel Tasis managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Costa Rica's supporters crossed their fingers, but Axel Tasis was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. If Axel Tasis had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 23rd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Benito Sanz came out of the goal in the 26th minute to try and stop a shot by Atlanta United F.C.'s Joel Leite. But to his dismay, Joel Leite quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 0-1. After some careless play in the Costa Rica defense, Joel Leite kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Benito Sanz. The Costa Rica fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Benito Sanz should have stopped the shot. The audience thought a goal was coming when Axel Tasis got free with Mané França in the 41st minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Luck had favoured the away team in the first, and they walked off with a 1-2 lead.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Axel Tasis to make the kick off. In the 52nd minute, Axel Tasis got an opportunity to score, but he didn't get a solid hit on the ball and ended up kicking it wide of the goal. In the 56th minute, Fábio Castro left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The Atlanta United F.C. fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 1-3. Fred Fernandez hit a great freekick 63 minutes into the match. Costa Rica's Benito Sanz played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Fábio Castro in the 66th minute of play. A collision led to Atlanta United F.C. getting a freekick after 70 minutes play. Fabinho Peixoto hit a great ball. Atlanta United F.C.'s Fabinho Peixoto got his second yellow card of the match in the 76th minute. The referee ordered Fabinho Peixoto off the ground. In the 77th minute, Fabinho Peixoto hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. After a defensive mix-up in Costa Rica's zone, Fábio Castro stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Benito Sanz came out of the goal and Fábio Castro tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. 91 minutes into the game, Alexander Carballo was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Costa Rica's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Atlanta United F.C. the free kick. After 91 played minutes Costa Rica got a freekick which was hit by Alexander Carballo. After having played for 92 minutes, Daniel da Fonseca managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Atlanta United F.C.'s supporters crossed their fingers, but Daniel da Fonseca was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal.