Challenge

Estadio Nacional
Spectators: 44 (Terracing: 34, Seating: 10, 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. Oscar Saldanha was in the perfect position, and the defense had done a good job marking him, but Eliseo Noboa showcased his skills and made a perfect shot to score 1-0 in the 3 minute of play. With a little luck, Squadra Demarchi's Oscar Saldanha got control of the ball when Lautaro Puig tried to sneak it across the goal line. A collision led to Squadra Demarchi getting a freekick after 9 minutes play. Ciro Castro hit a great ball. Claudinho Pinho sent away a hard shot on goal in the 11th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Kléber Queirós in the 13th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Benito Sanz saved Costa Rica from getting behind. Benito Sanz made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Paulinho Paraibano in the 15th minute of play. Costa Rica's Benito Sanz played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Claudinho Pinho in the 16th minute of play. If Axel Tasis had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 20th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 23rd minute Axel Tasis shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Oscar Saldanha saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Ciro Castro kicked well hit freekick during the 24th minute of the match. In the 26th minute, Eliseo Noboa 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 28th minute, Ciro Castro hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Axel Tasis shot from long distance in the 29th minute, but Oscar Saldanha was prepared and stopped the ball at the left post. After 34 minutes of play, Costa Rica's Lautaro Puig made it 2-0 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Oscar Saldanha was left in no man's land by his defense there! Benito Sanz showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Kléber Queirós in the 38th minute of the match. A collision led to Costa Rica getting a freekick after 39 minutes play. Alan Moruga hit a great ball. If Claudinho Pinho had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 41st minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. A collision led to Squadra Demarchi getting a freekick after 43 minutes play. Ciro Castro hit a great ball. 44 minutes into the game, Ciro Castro was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Squadra Demarchi's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Costa Rica the free kick. Axel Tasis who was well placed in front of the goal fired away a dangerous shot that in the 46thth minute tested the skills of Oscar Saldanha when he managed to save the team from getting behind. All the noise was coming from the home fans when the whistle went for half-time. The home team had fought hardest to put themselves in a deserved lead.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Claudinho Pinho to make the kick off. When Claudinho Pinho came up free with the goalie in the 53rd minute, the Squadra Demarchi 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 Claudinho Pinho couldn't finish the play. Benito Sanz stood somewhat misplaced when Claudinho Pinho came free in front of goal and shot 2-1 to the left of him in the 57 minute. Claudinho Pinho recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 61st minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Oscar Saldanha showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Eliseo Noboa in the 67th minute of the match. An unexpectedly hard shot by Lautaro Puig in the 69th minute of play forced Squadra Demarchi's goalkeeper Oscar Saldanha to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. 73 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 Kléber Queirós. Benito Sanz stood somewhat misplaced when Claudinho Pinho came free in front of goal and shot 2-3 to the left of him in the 78 minute. 89 minutes into the game, Alan Moruga 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 Squadra Demarchi the free kick. In the 89th match minute, Costa Rica was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Alan Moruga to maneuver through the defense. Benito Sanz showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Paulinho Paraibano, who was totally free with the ball in the 95th minute. Squadra Demarchi's players went to the stands to thank the travelling support. The fan's backing had helped spurr the team on to a fine performance that won them the match.