Challenge

Cluj Arena
Spectators: 41 (Terracing: 32, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) The mood of the audience was pleasant when Sever Tomulescu made the kick off which started today's match. Fc Universitatea Cluj's Sever Tomulescu got a good chance for a goal in the 4th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. 7 minutes into the game, Sever Tomulescu lined in a short shot 1-0 behind a frustrated Benito Sanz. Ernest Inculeț showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Axel Tasis in the 11th minute of the match. Benito Sanz didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Sever Tomulescu went, in the 18th minute, to the upper right corner, 2-0 was the resulting score. 26 minutes into the game, Fc Universitatea Cluj's Sever Tomulescu nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Benito Sanz made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 3-0. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Saul Soputan during the 30th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. In the 30th match minute, Fc Universitatea Cluj was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Saul Soputan to maneuver through the defense. Benito Sanz made an important save on a dangerous shot by Sever Tomulescu in the 37th minute. In the 38th minute Otsoa Manzardo 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. Ernest Inculeț came out of the goal in the 42nd minute to try and stop a shot by Costa Rica's Axel Tasis. But to his dismay, Axel Tasis quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 3-1. Sever Tomulescu took the ball and in the 45 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Benito Sanz. Benito Sanz dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 4-1. The home fans were very happy to see their team leading 4-1 at half-time.

Fc Universitatea Cluj's Jürgen Tihkan was substituted for Saul Soputan. Otsoa Manzardo received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 54th minute. Benito Sanz tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Sever Tomulescu blasted a shot towards the goal in the 55th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Benito Sanz having to make a save. In the 60th minute Sever Tomulescu 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. After 60 minutes, Abel Carballo mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Costa Rica and the Fc Universitatea Cluj players grew even worse after the yellow card. After a rather tough play, Costa Rica's Abel Carballo got a free kick in the 60th minute. In the 62nd minute the ball was on its way in behind Costa Rica's goalkeeper Benito Sanz, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. If David Pacuraru had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 66th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. When Otsoa Manzardo came up free with the goalie in the 68th minute, the Fc Universitatea Cluj 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 Otsoa Manzardo couldn't finish the play. After 69 played minutes Costa Rica got a freekick which was hit by Aaron Alcocer. Jürgen Tihkan kicked well hit freekick during the 72nd minute of the match. Benito Sanz showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Otsoa Manzardo, who was totally free with the ball in the 74th minute. Abel Carballo hit a great freekick 79 minutes into the match. After some careless play in the Costa Rica defense, Sever Tomulescu 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. After having played for 89 minutes, Sever Tomulescu managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Fc Universitatea Cluj's supporters crossed their fingers, but Sever Tomulescu was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Benito Sanz made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Sever Tomulescu in the 91st minute of play. An unexpectedly hard shot by Sever Tomulescu in the 93rd minute of play forced Costa Rica's goalkeeper Benito Sanz to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. 96 minutes into the match, Costa Rica's goal looked a bit too open when Sever Tomulescu came free, but Benito Sanz reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line.