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. 9 minutes into the match, Hille IF's Fred Bivall sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Benito Sanz narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Benito Sanz came out of the goal in the 11th minute to try and stop a shot by Hille IF's Jerry Blomqvist. But to his dismay, Jerry Blomqvist quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 0-1. In the 14th minute, Eliseo Noboa fired away a killer shot towards the goal that, to the delight of Mats Ekrot, passed just outside the right post. Lautaro Puig struck a weak shot in the 16th minute. Mats Ekrot didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Costa Rica. In the 20th match minute, Costa Rica was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Alan Moruga to maneuver through the defense. William Sjöö's shot from long distance was a real pearl which went to the right and just passed Benito Sanz - 0-2 was put on the score board in the 21st minute. Mikael Pihl's late challenge caught a Costa Rica's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Mikael Pihl helped the player get up and apologised. In the 23rd minute, Mikael Pihl hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Costa Rica's Axel Tasis got a good chance for a goal in the 24th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. A collision led to Costa Rica getting a freekick after 29 minutes play. Alan Moruga hit a great ball. In the 30th minute Jerry Blomqvist 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. 36 minutes in the game, Axel Tasis fired away an excellent shot, which passed to the side of the right post without Mats Ekrot having to interfere. The supporters of Hille IF booed when Costa Rica was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 38 match minutes in a wonderful position. Efrain Moruga didn't get a good kick on the ball. Benito Sanz showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Fred Bivall, who was totally free with the ball in the 39th minute. Benito Sanz showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Tobias Vallman, who was totally free with the ball in the 41st minute. A collision led to Costa Rica getting a freekick after 42 minutes play. Alan Moruga hit a great ball. Fred Bivall blasted a shot towards the goal in the 46th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Benito Sanz having to make a save. Benito Sanz made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Tobias Vallman in the 47th minute of play.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Fred Bivall stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. Lautaro Puig received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 52nd minute. Mats Ekrot tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. 61 minutes into the game, Lautaro Puig 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 Hille IF the free kick. A collision led to Costa Rica getting a freekick after 61 minutes play. Lautaro Puig hit a great ball. In the 66th minute the ball was on its way in behind Hille IF's goalkeeper Mats Ekrot, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. When Lautaro Puig came up free with the goalie in the 68th minute, the Costa Rica 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 Lautaro Puig couldn't finish the play. In the 72nd minute Fred Bivall 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. A collision led to Costa Rica getting a freekick after 75 minutes play. Efrain Moruga hit a great ball. Mats Ekrot showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Lautaro Puig in the 78th minute of the match. Benito Sanz made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Fred Bivall in the 83rd minute of play. Eliseo Noboa fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 89th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Mats Ekrot having to interfere. When William Sjöö fell near the penalty area in the 90th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Hille IF's protests and gave William Sjöö a yellow card for diving instead. After 90 played minutes Hille IF got a freekick which was hit by William Sjöö. If Eliseo Noboa had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 93rd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 96th 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. The Costa Rica fans had already started to leave before the final whistle blew. Hille IF were clearly better and deserved to take the win.