Challenge

Arena Fonte Nova
Spectators: 40 (Terracing: 31, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Luiz Gustavo Paes started the match with the kick off. Marcelo Lomba made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Axel Tasis in the 3rd minute of play. In the 5th minute, Gilberto Quadros hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. 11 minutes into the match, Esporte Club Bahia's Luís Eduardo Salles sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Benito Sanz narrowly saved just below the crossbar. The audience was convinced that Axel Tasis's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Marcelo Lomba was relentless in the 15th minute of the game. In the 18th minute Tiago Xavier 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. 19 minutes had been played when some careless play by Costa Rica's defense caused the ball to cross the line for a corner. Tiago Xavier was slow to take the kick. During this time Esporte Club Bahia's players had a chance to rest. Esporte Club Bahia's Tiago Xavier was first on the ball when the corner was shot and he dangerously headed the ball towards goal, but Benito Sanz in the goal jumped up to prevent it from getting in. When Luís Eduardo Salles came up free with the goalie in the 24th minute, the Esporte Club Bahia 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 Luís Eduardo Salles couldn't finish the play. Luís Eduardo Salles recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 28th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. 29 minutes into the match, Costa Rica's goal looked a bit too open when Luís Eduardo Salles came free, but Benito Sanz reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Costa Rica's Benito Sanz proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 34th minute of the match, managed to save Costa Rica from getting a goal against them. If Axel Tasis had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 40th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. 40 minutes into the match, Esporte Club Bahia's goal looked a bit too open when Axel Tasis came free, but Marcelo Lomba reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Costa Rica's Lautaro Puig got a good chance for a goal in the 41st minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Marcelo Lomba made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Axel Tasis in the 46th minute of play.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Axel Tasis stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. When Eliseo Noboa fell near the penalty area in the 51st minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Costa Rica's protests and gave Eliseo Noboa a yellow card for diving instead. After 52 played minutes Costa Rica got a freekick which was hit by Eliseo Noboa. After 52 played minutes Costa Rica got a freekick which was hit by Abel Carballo. Tiago Xavier might have been able to make a better finish in the 53rd minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Benito Sanz. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Tiago Xavier ran back to his position shaking his head. After 55 minutes of play, Esporte Club Bahia's Tiago Xavier made it 1-0 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! In the 65th minute the ball was on its way in behind Esporte Club Bahia's goalkeeper Marcelo Lomba, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. Luís Eduardo Salles struck a weak shot in the 70th 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 Esporte Club Bahia. Luiz Gustavo Paes sent away a hard shot on goal in the 73rd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Tiago Xavier received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 77th minute. Benito Sanz tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Axel Tasis recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 80th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. The supporters of Esporte Club Bahia booed when Costa Rica was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 83 match minutes in a wonderful position. Abel Carballo didn't get a good kick on the ball. Benito Sanz didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Luiz Gustavo Paes went, in the 84th minute, to the upper right corner, 2-0 was the resulting score. A collision led to Costa Rica getting a freekick after 87 minutes play. Axel Tasis hit a great ball. In the 88th minute Luiz Gustavo Paes 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. 89 minutes had been played when some careless play by Costa Rica's defense caused the ball to cross the line for a corner. Tiago Xavier was slow to take the kick. During this time Esporte Club Bahia's players had a chance to rest. Luiz Gustavo Paes's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Benito Sanz read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 92nd minute of play. Alan Moruga charged in rather forcefully in the 93rd minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Alan Moruga the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. The supporters of Esporte Club Bahia booed when Costa Rica was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 93 match minutes in a wonderful position. Alan Moruga didn't get a good kick on the ball. Esporte Club Bahia's supporters were delighted with their team's performance and swarmed onto the pitch at the end of the match to celebrate the victory with the players.