Challenge

Estadio Nacional
Spectators: 45 (Terracing: 35, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Axel Tasis got the match started through his kick off. Mantas Plingis made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Eliseo Noboa in the 4th minute of play. With a little luck, VfB Stuttgart's Mantas Plingis got control of the ball when Axel Tasis tried to sneak it across the goal line. Mantas Plingis made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Eliseo Noboa in the 10th minute of play. Alan Moruga's late challenge caught a VfB Stuttgart's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Alan Moruga helped the player get up and apologised. After 14 played minutes Costa Rica got a freekick which was hit by Juan Rubio. Eliseo Noboa hit a great freekick 15 minutes into the match. Ahmed Sahraoui hit a great freekick 17 minutes into the match. VfB Stuttgart's Mantas Plingis played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Eliseo Noboa in the 19th minute of play. Mouloud Laref kicked well hit freekick during the 22nd minute of the match. 23 minutes into the match, Costa Rica's Lautaro Puig sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Mantas Plingis narrowly saved just below the crossbar. In the 24th minute Costa Rica were awarded a corner. Axel Tasis went to the cornerflag to take it. 29 minutes into the match, Costa Rica's goal looked a bit too open when Ivan Zafirov came free, but Benito Sanz reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. 32 minutes into the match, VfB Stuttgart's goalkeeper Mantas Plingis had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Lautaro Puig. 33 minutes into the match, Costa Rica's goal looked a bit too open when Rio Darwis came free, but Benito Sanz reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After 34 played minutes Costa Rica got a freekick which was hit by Eliseo Noboa. 37 minutes into the match, Toma Spasunov had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Benito Sanz. Costa Rica's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Toma Spasunov was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 0-1. 40 minutes into the game, Axel Tasis recieved a splendid long ball, split the defenders, and gently placed the ball to the left of Mantas Plingis. Axel Tasis showed that you don't have to tear a hole in the net to score, 1-1. After some careless play in the VfB Stuttgart defense, Axel Tasis kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Mantas Plingis. The VfB Stuttgart fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Mantas Plingis should have stopped the shot. A collision led to Costa Rica getting a freekick after 47 minutes play. Axel Tasis hit a great ball. Af the end of the first half the score was 2-1. The first half had gone as expected for the home team.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Toma Spasunov to make the kick off. Eliseo Noboa sent away a hard shot on goal in the 52nd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. In the 53rd match minute, VfB Stuttgart was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Mohammed Ahmed Lacen to maneuver through the defense. In the 63rd match minute, Costa Rica was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Alan Moruga to maneuver through the defense. Lautaro Puig fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 66th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Mantas Plingis having to interfere. In the 73rd minute, Abel Carballo hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Toma Spasunov kicked well hit freekick during the 74th minute of the match. When Ivan Zafirov came up free with the goalie in the 77th minute, the VfB Stuttgart 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 Ivan Zafirov couldn't finish the play. After having played for 79 minutes, Eliseo Noboa managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Costa Rica's supporters crossed their fingers, but Eliseo Noboa was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Mantas Plingis showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Eliseo Noboa, who was totally free with the ball in the 80th minute. A collision led to VfB Stuttgart getting a freekick after 81 minutes play. Mouloud Laref hit a great ball. Benito Sanz took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Ivan Zafirov, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Benito Sanz made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Toma Spasunov in the 85th minute of play. Benito Sanz took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Toma Spasunov, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. After a defensive mix-up in Costa Rica's zone, Ivan Zafirov stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Benito Sanz came out of the goal and Ivan Zafirov tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. An unexpectedly hard shot by Toma Spasunov in the 90th minute of play forced Costa Rica's goalkeeper Benito Sanz to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 91st minute, Alan Moruga hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. In the 93rd match minute, VfB Stuttgart was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Ahmed Sahraoui to maneuver through the defense. After some fancy dribbling in the 95th minute, Ivan Zafirov managed to get in a good position for a shot. VfB Stuttgart's supporters rose to their feet, but Ivan Zafirov 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. VfB Stuttgart's supporters were dissatisfied at the end of the match because Costa Rica had won, even though VfB Stuttgart had held more of the ball.