Challenge

Estadio Nacional
Spectators: 45 (Terracing: 35, 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. Costa Rica's Axel Tasis got a good chance for a goal in the 4th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. In the 10th minute, Octav Hodorog left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The A.C. Milan fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 1-1. In the 13th minute, Octavian Goiciu hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. After some fancy dribbling in the 15th minute, Lautaro Puig managed to get in a good position for a shot. Costa Rica's supporters rose to their feet, but Lautaro Puig was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Ciprian Alupoaie breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. 16 minutes into the game, Costa Rica's Lautaro Puig nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Ciprian Alupoaie made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 2-1. 23 minutes into the match, Costa Rica's goal looked a bit too open when Octav Hodorog came free, but Benito Sanz reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Lautaro Puig's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Ciprian Alupoaie read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 24th minute of play. In the 26th of the match, Eliseo Noboa tried to place the ball in the upper right corner, but Ciprian Alupoaie got in the way and made a wonderful save. Axel Tasis recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 30th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. In the 34th 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. Eliseo Noboa charged in rather forcefully in the 38th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Eliseo Noboa the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. Eliseo Noboa hit a great freekick 38 minutes into the match. Eliseo Noboa recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 45th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. The first half was very even, with the score at 2-2 when the whistle went for half-time. The players welcomed the break and quickly retired to the dressing rooms.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Emil Horațiu to make the kick off. Octav Hodorog recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 51st minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Lautaro Puig struck a weak shot in the 58th minute. Ciprian Alupoaie didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Costa Rica. If Dinu Adomniței had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 60th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Emil Horațiu fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 63rd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Benito Sanz having to interfere. Octavian Goiciu hit a great freekick 65 minutes into the match. An unexpectedly hard shot by Lautaro Puig in the 67th minute of play forced A.C. Milan's goalkeeper Ciprian Alupoaie to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Axel Tasis received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 73rd minute. Ciprian Alupoaie tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. In the 79th minute, Laurențiu Velicu 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. After a defensive mix-up in A.C. Milan's zone, Eliseo Noboa stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Ciprian Alupoaie came out of the goal and Eliseo Noboa tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. 84 minutes into the match, Axel Tasis had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Ciprian Alupoaie. A.C. Milan's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Axel Tasis was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 3-2. In the 92nd minute, Costa Rica's goalie took a deep sigh of relief after Emil Horațiu fired away a hard shot that went just outside the left post. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Octav Hodorog during the 94th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. In the 94th minute, Octav Hodorog hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field.