Challenge

Jorge Luis Hirschi
Spectators: 40 (Terracing: 31, Seating: 9, 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. Benito Sanz made a fantastic save in the 3rd minute, when Arnaldo Gabon sent off a good shot on target. After 4 played minutes ESTUDIANTES de la PLATA got a freekick which was hit by Rafael Dalmu. Costa Rica's Eliseo Noboa got a good chance for a goal in the 6th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Elpidio Francis scored 1-0 in the 8th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Benito Sanz, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. After 12 minutes Costa Rica's defender was forced to head the ball over the line for a corner. It was Elpidio Francis who took care of the corner kick. After taking down the ball on ESTUDIANTES de la PLATA's corner Elpidio Francis fired away a hard shot, but the defenders efficiently covered the most dangerous angles and Benito Sanz quite easily take care of the ball. Elpidio Francis succeeded to score despite a near miss that spronge from right pole into the goal to 2-0 in the 17th playminute. Arnaldo Gabon received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 22nd minute. Benito Sanz tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Arnaldo Gabon succeeded to score despite a near miss that spronge from right pole into the goal to 3-0 in the 24th playminute. After a defensive mix-up in Costa Rica's zone, Elpidio Francis stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Benito Sanz came out of the goal and Elpidio Francis tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Benito Sanz made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Elpidio Francis in the 28th minute of play. ESTUDIANTES de la PLATA were awarded a corner in the 29th minute after Costa Rica's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Elpidio Francis took the corner. Elpidio Francis blasted a shot towards the goal in the 31st minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Benito Sanz having to make a save. Elpidio Francis could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 31st minute of the match, but Benito Sanz made a huge save. The supporters of ESTUDIANTES de la PLATA booed when Costa Rica was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 33 match minutes in a wonderful position. Lautaro Puig didn't get a good kick on the ball. A hard shot 37 in the game by Elpidio Francis from a close distance when the talented Benito Sanz managed to make a qualified save. Costa Rica's players were relieved. After 38 played minutes Costa Rica got a freekick which was hit by Abel Carballo. If Elpidio Francis had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 39th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. After 44 played minutes Costa Rica got a freekick which was hit by Abel Carballo. Benito Sanz didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Arnaldo Gabon went, in the 45th minute, to the upper right corner, 5-0 was the resulting score. No-one was surprised that the home team were leading 5-0 at half-time.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Elpidio Francis made a kick off. Arnaldo Gabon received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 51st minute. Benito Sanz tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Abel Carballo was shown his second yellow card after 59 minutes, following a rather ugly tackle on opponent. That was the end of his participation in the match. In the 60th match minute, Costa Rica was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Abel Carballo to maneuver through the defense. ESTUDIANTES de la PLATA made a substitution. André Monclús replaced Elpidio Francis. The supporters of ESTUDIANTES de la PLATA booed when Costa Rica was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 61 match minutes in a wonderful position. Abel Carballo didn't get a good kick on the ball. In the 62nd minute, André Monclús 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 6-0. André Monclús fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 66th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Benito Sanz having to interfere. An unexpectedly hard shot by André Monclús in the 69th minute of play forced Costa Rica's goalkeeper Benito Sanz to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. André Monclús took the ball and in the 73 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 7-0. Benito Sanz came out of the goal in the 82nd minute to try and stop a shot by ESTUDIANTES de la PLATA's André Monclús. But to his dismay, André Monclús quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 8-0. Benito Sanz came out of the goal in the 86th minute to try and stop a shot by ESTUDIANTES de la PLATA's André Monclús. But to his dismay, André Monclús quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 9-0. Benito Sanz took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from André Monclús, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. After 91 played minutes Costa Rica got a freekick which was hit by Juan Rubio. In the 92nd match minute, Costa Rica was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Juan Rubio to maneuver through the defense. In the 93rd match minute, Costa Rica was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Aaron Alcocer to maneuver through the defense. André Monclús struck a weak shot in the 94th minute. Benito Sanz didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for ESTUDIANTES de la PLATA. ESTUDIANTES de la PLATA walked away with a well-earned victory that was much celebrated by the crowd.