Challenge

Arena Atlanta
Spectators: 39 (Terracing: 30, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) The mood of the audience was pleasant when Serafim de Carvalho made the kick off which started today's match. Mané França made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Lautaro Puig in the 4th minute of play. 6 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 Serafim de Carvalho. An unexpectedly hard shot by Fábio Castro in the 10th minute of play forced Costa Rica's goalkeeper Benito Sanz to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. After 17 played minutes Costa Rica got a freekick which was hit by Efrain Moruga. The supporters of Costa Rica booed when Atlanta United F.C. was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 20 match minutes in a wonderful position. Fábio Castro didn't get a good kick on the ball. Benito Sanz made a fantastic save in the 23rd minute, when Fábio Castro sent off a good shot on target. Eliseo Noboa recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 24th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. After a rather tough play, Atlanta United F.C.'s Cipriano Moura got a free kick in the 25th minute. After 29 minutes, Cipriano Moura mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Atlanta United F.C. and the Costa Rica players grew even worse after the yellow card. The supporters of Costa Rica booed when Atlanta United F.C. was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 29 match minutes in a wonderful position. Cipriano Moura didn't get a good kick on the ball. Mané França made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Lautaro Puig in the 31st minute of play. Fabinho Salgado'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. Fabinho Salgado helped the player get up and apologised. Fabinho Salgado hit a great freekick 35 minutes into the match. 40 minutes into the match, Costa Rica's goal looked a bit too open when Fábio Castro came free, but Benito Sanz reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 42nd minute, Lautaro Puig left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The Costa Rica fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 0-1. Mané França made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Lautaro Puig in the 46th minute of play. Luck had favoured the away team in the first, and they walked off with a 0-1 lead.

The wind increased when Axel Tasis made the kick off in the second half. Mané França was out of position in the 52 minute of play, and Axel Tasis capitalized on the mistake with a soft shot into the goal. Axel Tasis really showed his touch with that goal: 0-2. After 59 played minutes Atlanta United F.C. got a freekick which was hit by Fabinho Peixoto. Axel Tasis struck a weak shot in the 65th minute. Mané França didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Costa Rica. Serafim de Carvalho hit a great freekick 67 minutes into the match. Mané França was a little too slow when Lautaro Puig got a fine hit on the ball which went right into the goal in the 69th minute. The score was now 0-3. 74 minutes into the match, Atlanta United F.C.'s goal looked a bit too open when Axel Tasis came free, but Mané França reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 75th minute Axel Tasis shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Mané França saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. 78 minutes into the match, Atlanta United F.C.'s goalkeeper Mané França had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Axel Tasis. Eliseo Noboa received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 83rd minute. Mané França tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. In the 93rd minute, Joel Leite 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. If Lautaro Puig had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 97th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Costa Rica played a much better game than Atlanta United F.C. and deserved their victory. The Atlanta United F.C. players were clearly disappointed as they left the ground.