Challenge

Gerner Norstrand
Spectators: 42 (Terracing: 32, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) After 4 minutes, Quentin Francis made it 1-0 with a short kick to the right side. Costa Rica's Benito Sanz tried to save the shot but he was too slow in reacting to the shot. Costa Rica's Benito Sanz played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Quentin Francis in the 9th minute of play. The supporters of Costa Rica booed when Naboonga OFF was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 11 match minutes in a wonderful position. Genaro Palben didn't get a good kick on the ball. Eliseo Noboa sent away a hard shot on goal in the 12th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. 14 minutes into the match, Damian Valente 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 Damian Valente was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 3-0. In the 18th minute Damian Valente 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. Benito Sanz showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Damian Valente, who was totally free with the ball in the 21st minute. Naboonga OFF's attentive Americo Macias managed to snatch the ball when Hugo Ferrant made a throw-in in the 24th minute of the game. Quentin Francis struck a weak shot in the 25th 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 Naboonga OFF. Axel Tasis hit a great freekick 27 minutes into the match. 28 minutes into the match, Quentin Francis sent off a long shot that looked like it was going straight into the goal, but because Benito Sanz threw himself in his full length he managed to grip the ball by the left post, and there was no goal for Quentin Francis this time. After 29 minutes of play, Costa Rica's Aaron Alcocer made it 3-1 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Vladimiro Costante was left in no man's land by his defense there! In the 34th minute, Eliseo Noboa made a precise shot to the right of Vladimiro Costante. Naboonga OFF's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 3-2. A collision led to Costa Rica getting a freekick after 36 minutes play. Aaron Alcocer 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 Quentin Francis in the 37th minute of play. Benito Sanz made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Damian Valente in the 41st minute of play. Benito Sanz took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Damian Valente, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. After 46 played minutes Costa Rica got a freekick which was hit by Alan Moruga. The home fans were very happy to see their team leading 3-2 at half-time.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Quentin Francis made a kick off. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Quentin Francis in the 53rd managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Benito Sanz saved Costa Rica from getting behind. In the 54th minute, Quentin Francis 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. A collision led to Costa Rica getting a freekick after 57 minutes play. Eliseo Noboa hit a great ball. Eliseo Noboa's late challenge caught a Naboonga OFF'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 58 minutes into the match. 64 minutes into the match, Costa Rica's goal looked a bit too open when Damian Valente came free, but Benito Sanz reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 65th minute, Lautaro Puig ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Vladimiro Costante was frozen by the shot and now it was 4-3. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Quentin Francis in the 70th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Benito Sanz saved Costa Rica from getting behind. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Alan Moruga during the 70th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. After 71 played minutes Costa Rica got a freekick which was hit by Alan Moruga. Naboonga OFF's Vladimiro Costante proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 82nd minute of the match, managed to save Naboonga OFF from getting a goal against them. After 86 played minutes Costa Rica got a freekick which was hit by Eliseo Noboa. After a defensive mix-up in Costa Rica's zone, Quentin Francis stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Benito Sanz came out of the goal and Quentin Francis tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Vladimiro Costante took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Eliseo Noboa, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. The audience thought a goal was coming when Axel Tasis got free with Vladimiro Costante in the 96th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. The referee blew his whistle, and the match came to a close. The players exchanged shirts and headed down the tunnel. The Naboonga OFF fans cheered their team off the field, for while Costa Rica had put up a good fight, they were unable to come out of the game with any points to show for their effort.