Challenge

Estadio Nacional
Spectators: 44 (Terracing: 34, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) Rafaela FC's Rodrigo-Sebastian Palacio 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. In the 2nd match minute, Costa Rica was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Juan Rubio to maneuver through the defense. Camillo Daniele sent away a hard shot on goal in the 3rd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Benito Sanz showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Rodrigo-Sebastian Palacio in the 10th minute of the match. After some careless play in the Costa Rica defense, Esteban Ikatz 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. Esteban Ikatz might have been able to make a better finish in the 17th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Benito Sanz. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Esteban Ikatz ran back to his position shaking his head. After having played for 20 minutes, Camillo Daniele managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Rafaela FC's supporters crossed their fingers, but Camillo Daniele was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. 21 minutes into the game, Esteban Ikatz cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 0-3. Benito Sanz was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. Inocencio Veronica made an important save on a dangerous shot by Axel Tasis in the 33rd minute. If Axel Tasis had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 35th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. 36 minutes into the match, Costa Rica's goal looked a bit too open when Esteban Ikatz came free, but Benito Sanz reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Rafaela FC's Esteban Ikatz got a good chance for a goal in the 38th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. After some fancy dribbling in the 40th minute, Emiliano Furia managed to get in a good position for a shot. Rafaela FC's supporters rose to their feet, but Emiliano Furia 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. Benito Sanz took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Ross Strong, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. 42 minutes into the match, Costa Rica's goal looked a bit too open when Rodrigo-Sebastian Palacio came free, but Benito Sanz reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. The supporters of Rafaela FC booed when Costa Rica was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 47 match minutes in a wonderful position. Lautaro Puig didn't get a good kick on the ball. Even after changing tactics the home team jogged off the field with a 0-5 deficit. They would have to work harder if they wanted to turn things around in the second half.

In the 53rd minute, Rodrigo-Sebastian Palacio left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The Rafaela FC fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 0-6. Rodrigo-Sebastian Palacio might have been able to make a better finish in the 56th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Benito Sanz. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Rodrigo-Sebastian Palacio ran back to his position shaking his head. 57 minutes into the match, Ross Strong 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 Ross Strong was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 0-7. Costa Rica's Benito Sanz proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 59th minute of the match, managed to save Costa Rica from getting a goal against them. Benito Sanz made an important save on a dangerous shot by Esteban Ikatz in the 63rd minute. In the 66th minute, Efrain Moruga hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. The crowd rose to their feet as Rodrigo-Sebastian Palacio kicked a wonderful shot that went in to the left of a diving Benito Sanz. That made the score 0-8 in the 68 minute of play. The crowd rose to their feet as Rafaela FC's Rodrigo-Sebastian Palacio slotted home a wonderful shot that went in to the left of Benito Sanz. That made the score 0-9 after 70 minutes of play. Rodrigo-Sebastian Palacio's shot when he came free in front of the goal in the 74thth minute, Benito Sanz skillfully showed off with a save to what seemed to be an obvious goal. In the 76th minute Camillo Daniele 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. Rafaela FC made a substitution. Ubaldo Lluis replaced Basilio Guillerme. In the 78th minute Rafaela FC were awarded a corner. Nico Veit went to the cornerflag to take it. After taking down the ball on Rafaela FC's corner Nico Veit fired away a hard shot, but the defenders efficiently covered the most dangerous angles and Benito Sanz quite easily take care of the ball. In the 81st minute, Esteban Ikatz fired away a shot on goal. He put a little to much spin on the ball and sent it just wide of the right post. A collision led to Rafaela FC getting a freekick after 85 minutes play. Alex Suhendar hit a great ball. When Rafaela FC's Rodrigo-Sebastian Palacio in the 87th minute got a chance for a shot 87th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Costa Rica's goalie prevented a goal. Esteban Ikatz's shot straight on target was not completely harmless. The ball had pretty good speed, but Benito Sanz firmly grabbed it by the left post. 89 minutes had been played when some careless play by Costa Rica's defense caused the ball to cross the line for a corner. Nico Veit was slow to take the kick. During this time Rafaela FC's players had a chance to rest. Benito Sanz showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Rodrigo-Sebastian Palacio, who was totally free with the ball in the 90th minute. Benito Sanz made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Rodrigo-Sebastian Palacio in the 93rd minute of play. Rafaela FC's fans were overjoyed with their teams well-earned victory and stayed in the stadium long after the final whistle to celebrate the win.