Challenge

Estadio Nacional
Spectators: 45 (Terracing: 35, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Aykut Bartu started the match with the kick off. After some careless play in the Costa Rica defense, Aykut Bartu kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Benito Sanz. The Costa Rica fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Benito Sanz should have stopped the shot. Cristiano Ronaldinho fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 7th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Benito Sanz having to interfere. When the match clock showed 9 minutes, the score became 0-2 when Aykut Bartu sped through Costa Rica's defense and sent away a curving shot that went into the net to the right of Benito Sanz. When Tao Xiong Xuan came up free with the goalie in the 12th minute, the Cetatea Suceava 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 Tao Xiong Xuan couldn't finish the play. In the 16th minute, Francesco Alfonsi hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Cetatea Suceava's Liviu Aldulescu played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Eliseo Noboa in the 17th minute of play. Aykut Bartu sent away a hard shot on goal in the 20th minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. 23 minutes into the game, Cetatea Suceava's Aykut Bartu nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Benito Sanz made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 0-3. 28 minutes into the game, Cetatea Suceava's Tao Xiong Xuan nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Benito Sanz made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 0-4. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Cristiano Ronaldinho in the 31st 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. When Cetatea Suceava's Aykut Bartu in the 36th minute got a chance for a shot 36th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Costa Rica's goalie prevented a goal. After some fancy dribbling in the 36th minute, Cristiano Ronaldinho managed to get in a good position for a shot. Cetatea Suceava's supporters rose to their feet, but Cristiano Ronaldinho 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. 38 minutes into the match, Costa Rica's goal looked a bit too open when Cristian Elian came free, but Benito Sanz reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Cristian Elian took the ball and in the 38 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 0-6. 43 minutes into the match, Costa Rica's goal looked a bit too open when Aykut Bartu came free, but Benito Sanz reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. When the match clock showed 47 minutes, the score became 0-7 when Aykut Bartu sped through Costa Rica's defense and sent away a curving shot that went into the net to the right of Benito Sanz. The Costa Rica players were disheartened as they walked off the pitch after the first half. Cetatea Suceava were winning 0-7.

Cristian Elian received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 55th minute. Benito Sanz tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. In the 58th minute of the match, Cristiano Ronaldinho tried to roll the ball into the goal by the right post, but Benito Sanz saw his intentions and got control of the ball before it passed the line. Cetatea Suceava were awarded a corner in the 59th minute after Costa Rica's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Francesco Alfonsi took the corner. Abel Carballo's late challenge caught a Cetatea Suceava's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Abel Carballo helped the player get up and apologised. After 62 played minutes Costa Rica got a freekick which was hit by Abel Carballo. Tao Xiong Xuan who was well placed in front of the goal fired away a dangerous shot that in the 63rdth minute tested the skills of Benito Sanz when he managed to save the team from getting behind. Cetatea Suceava's Aykut Bartu suffered a sore foot after 64 minutes and couldn't finish the game. When Alexander Carballo fell near the penalty area in the 64th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Costa Rica's protests and gave Alexander Carballo a yellow card for diving instead. After a rather tough play, Costa Rica's Alexander Carballo got a free kick in the 65th minute. 66 minutes into the match, Tao Xiong Xuan notched a goal, 0-8, to the right of Costa Rica's Benito Sanz. Benito Sanz was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. Bogdan Stolniciu received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 69th minute. Benito Sanz tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Costa Rica's Benito Sanz played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Cristiano Ronaldinho in the 72nd minute of play. Benito Sanz took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Bogdan Stolniciu, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 76th minute, Costa Rica's Efrain Moruga seemed to kick out at an opponent. The referee saw this and, surprisingly, showed Efrain Moruga the red card, dismissing him from the pitch. The coaching staff of Costa Rica protested bitterly, but the referee would have none of it, and Efrain Moruga had no choice but to slowly walk off the pitch. 76 minutes into the game, one of Costa Rica:s players got tackled near the goal, and the referee blew for a penalty. When the match had been going on for 78 minutes, Cetatea Suceava's Francesco Alfonsi got an opportunity to shoot a penalty. He stayed cool and waited for the goalkeeper to move, before he confidently shot the ball into the goal, to the left of Benito Sanz. In the 84th match minute, Costa Rica was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Eliseo Noboa to maneuver through the defense. Benito Sanz made an important save on a dangerous shot by Bogdan Stolniciu in the 85th minute. Benito Sanz made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Cristiano Ronaldinho in the 86th minute of play. Cetatea Suceava were awarded a corner in the 87th minute after Costa Rica's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Francesco Alfonsi took the corner. Tao Xiong Xuan was in a good position and managed to take a shot, but he missed just to the outside of the post. With his leg Benito Sanz managed to avoid a goal in the 89thth minute, when Cetatea Suceava's Bogdan Stolniciu fired away a shot with a lot of spin towards his right hand side. Costa Rica's Benito Sanz proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 90th minute of the match, managed to save Costa Rica from getting a goal against them. Cetatea Suceava'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.