Challenge

Estadio Nacional
Spectators: 49 (Terracing: 38, Seating: 11, VIP seats: 0) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Axel Tasis took the kick off in the first half of the match. An unexpectedly hard shot by Rodrigo Ferdinand in the 3rd minute of play forced Costa Rica's goalkeeper Benito Sanz to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. After some careless play in the Costa Rica defense, Loukianos Staikos 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. International Thunders were awarded a corner in the 16th minute after Costa Rica's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Carlo Gerick took the corner. The corner ended in Carlo Gerick almost managing to get the ball behind the net, but Costa Rica's Benito Sanz did a great save. 17 minutes into the match, Loukianos Staikos 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 Loukianos Staikos was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 0-3. In the 21st minute Tibor Bäuschlein 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 a rather tough play, Costa Rica's Eliseo Noboa got a free kick in the 22nd minute. In the 28th minute, Loukianos Staikos ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Benito Sanz was frozen by the shot and now it was 0-5. An unexpectedly hard shot by Rodrigo Ferdinand in the 31st minute of play forced Costa Rica's goalkeeper Benito Sanz to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Benito Sanz showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Tibor Bäuschlein in the 33rd minute of the match. After 35 minutes, Loukianos Staikos made it 0-6 with a short kick to the right side. Costa Rica's Benito Sanz tried to save the shot but he was too slow in reacting to the shot. In the 41st minute, Axel Tasis hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. After a defensive mix-up in Costa Rica's zone, Loukianos Staikos stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Benito Sanz came out of the goal and Loukianos Staikos tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. In the 44th minute, 冯亦思 made a precise shot to the right of Benito Sanz. Costa Rica's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 0-7. When Lautaro Puig fell near the penalty area in the 46th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Costa Rica's protests and gave Lautaro Puig a yellow card for diving instead. In the 46th minute, Lautaro Puig hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Benito Sanz showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Loukianos Staikos, who was totally free with the ball in the 47th minute. After the first half International Thunders were leading 0-7. They had played with great self confidence throughout the first half and fully deserved their lead.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Loukianos Staikos to make the kick off. Loukianos Staikos was really disappointed when he shot the ball just outside the right post instead of scoring a goal in the 54th minute. International Thunders's manager could be seen on the sidelines shaking his head and muttering to himself as his team had just wasted another chance. Loukianos Staikos received a nice pass, split the defenders, and ran untouched towards the goal. Benito Sanz came out and tried to block the shot, but Loukianos Staikos slotted it home off the left post making it 0-8 in the 56th minute. After a rather tough play, Costa Rica's Juan Rubio got a free kick in the 58th minute. Benito Sanz acted impressively in front of the goal and made a superb save when he, in the 59th minute, took the ball on the long shot from Carlo Gerick. Lautaro Puig got his second yellow card in the match during the 60th minute which meant that he had to leave the ground. After 64 minutes of play, International Thunders's Rodrigo Ferdinand made it 0-10 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Benito Sanz was left in no man's land by his defense there! A collision led to International Thunders getting a freekick after 67 minutes play. Loukianos Staikos hit a great ball. International Thunders's Percival Costa was substituted for Loukianos Staikos. After 68 played minutes International Thunders got a freekick which was hit by Loukianos Staikos. Benito Sanz made an important save on a dangerous shot by Tibor Bäuschlein in the 70th minute. 70 minutes in the game, the ball went up into the seats when International Thunders's Tibor Bäuschlein fired away a shot that was just a little bit too high. He walked away shaking his head. An unexpectedly hard shot by Percival Costa in the 72nd minute of play forced Costa Rica's goalkeeper Benito Sanz to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. After having played for 73 minutes, Rodrigo Ferdinand managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. International Thunders's supporters crossed their fingers, but Rodrigo Ferdinand 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 showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Percival Costa in the 75th minute of the match. Percival Costa took the ball and in the 77 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 0-11. In the 80th minute, Costa Rica's goalie took a deep sigh of relief after Rodrigo Ferdinand fired away a hard shot that went just outside the left post. Rodrigo Ferdinand took the ball and in the 85 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 0-12. 87 minutes into the game, 冯亦思 cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 0-13. Benito Sanz was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. International Thunders played a much better game than Costa Rica and deserved their victory. The Costa Rica players were clearly disappointed as they left the ground.