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. Alan Moruga hit a great freekick 3 minutes into the match. Alan Moruga charged in rather forcefully in the 5th 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. Alan Moruga kicked well hit freekick during the 5th minute of the match. After 5 played minutes, The Alliance's Baran Bilge Ulusoy shot from a long distance, and at first it looked like the ball was going into the goal, but the goalkeeper Benito Sanz came through and got his fingers on the ball before it flew over the goal line. He then quickly gripped the ball tighter before the forwards in The Alliance reached it. Eliseo Noboa's late challenge caught a The Alliance's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Eliseo Noboa helped the player get up and apologised. Eliseo Noboa hit a great freekick 6 minutes into the match. A collision led to Costa Rica getting a freekick after 8 minutes play. Alan Moruga hit a great ball. Costa Rica's Benito Sanz played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Sven-Erik Högberg in the 9th minute of play. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Sven-Erik Högberg in the 9th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Benito Sanz prevented the ball from getting in the gole. After 11 minutes Costa Rica's defender was forced to head the ball over the line for a corner. It was Baran Bilge Ulusoy who took care of the corner kick. In the 12th minute Sven-Erik Högberg 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. After a rather tough play, Costa Rica's Juan Rubio got a free kick in the 12th minute. Costa Rica's Eliseo Noboa got his second yellow card of the match in the 15th minute. The referee ordered Eliseo Noboa off the ground. In the 16th minute, Eliseo Noboa hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. After some fancy dribbling in the 17th minute, Kasper Hermansson managed to get in a good position for a shot. The Alliance's supporters rose to their feet, but Kasper Hermansson was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Benito Sanz breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. In the 18th minute, Baran Bilge Ulusoy made a precise shot to the right of Benito Sanz. Costa Rica's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 0-1. After having played for 22 minutes, Sven-Erik Högberg managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. The Alliance's supporters crossed their fingers, but Sven-Erik Högberg was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. 23 minutes into the match, Costa Rica's goal looked a bit too open when Sven-Erik Högberg came free, but Benito Sanz reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. When Costa Rica's Axel Tasis in the 25th minute got a chance for a shot 25th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye The Alliance's goalie prevented a goal. If Sven-Erik Högberg had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 31st minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Sven-Erik Högberg in the 33rd managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Benito Sanz saved Costa Rica from getting behind. After 35 minutes of play, The Alliance's Kasper Hermansson made it 0-3 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! Evert Offendahl made a fantastic save in the 39th minute, when Lautaro Puig sent off a good shot on target. In the 41st minute Kasper Hermansson 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. Aaron Alcocer kicked well hit freekick during the 43rd minute of the match. 45 minutes into the game, Baran Bilge Ulusoy was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. The Alliance's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Costa Rica the free kick. The supporters of Costa Rica booed when The Alliance was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 45 match minutes in a wonderful position. Baran Bilge Ulusoy didn't get a good kick on the ball. Evert Offendahl made an important save on a dangerous shot by Lautaro Puig in the 47th minute. After the first half The Alliance were leading 0-3. They had played with great self confidence throughout the first half and fully deserved their lead.

52 minutes into the game, Kasper Hermansson cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 0-4. Benito Sanz was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. In the 58th minute, Kasper Hermansson 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 0-5. A hard shot 62 in the game by Sven-Erik Högberg from a close distance when the talented Benito Sanz managed to make a qualified save. Costa Rica's players were relieved. Sven-Erik Högberg in the 64thth minute had a little luck and got a chance for a shot in front of the goal. Without hesitation aimed to the right of Benito Sanz, who managed to lunge to the right direction and made a save. Benito Sanz didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Sven-Erik Högberg went, in the 65th minute, to the upper right corner, 0-6 was the resulting score. When The Alliance's Sven-Erik Högberg in the 68th minute got a chance for a shot 68th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Costa Rica's goalie prevented a goal. Sven Söderberg hit a great freekick 70 minutes into the match. In the 72nd minute Axel Tasis shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Evert Offendahl saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. When Baran Bilge Ulusoy came up free with the goalie in the 78th minute, the The Alliance 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 Baran Bilge Ulusoy couldn't finish the play. When Aaron Alcocer fell near the penalty area in the 81st minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Costa Rica's protests and gave Aaron Alcocer a yellow card for diving instead. After 81 played minutes Costa Rica got a freekick which was hit by Aaron Alcocer. After 82 played minutes Costa Rica got a freekick which was hit by Aaron Alcocer. In the 82nd minute, Sven-Erik Högberg 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. An unexpectedly hard shot by Kasper Hermansson in the 86th minute of play forced Costa Rica's goalkeeper Benito Sanz to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. The audience thought a goal was coming when Sven-Erik Högberg got free with Benito Sanz in the 91st minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. 94 minutes into the game, Sven-Erik Högberg recieved a splendid long ball, split the defenders, and gently placed the ball to the left of Benito Sanz. Sven-Erik Högberg showed that you don't have to tear a hole in the net to score, 0-7. The Alliance's players went to the stands to thank the travelling support. The fan's backing had helped spurr the team on to a fine performance that won them the match.