Challenge

Estadio Nacional
Spectators: 45 (Terracing: 35, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) In the 7th match minute, Costa Rica was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Alan Moruga to maneuver through the defense. Benito Sanz didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Alberigo Gianfrancesco went, in the 11th minute, to the upper right corner, 0-1 was the resulting score. The supporters of Costa Rica booed when XMAS was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 16 match minutes in a wonderful position. Concetto Marinucci didn't get a good kick on the ball. In the 21stth minute of the game Ernesto Minichiello who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Costa Rica's Benito Sanz was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. In the 21st minute Ennio De Nardis 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. Christian Zaccardi sent away a hard shot on goal in the 24th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. In the 27th minute, Ernesto Minichiello made a precise shot to the right of Benito Sanz. Costa Rica's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 0-2. In the 31st minute, Alberigo Gianfrancesco 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 0-3. The supporters of XMAS booed when Costa Rica was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 34 match minutes in a wonderful position. Eliseo Noboa didn't get a good kick on the ball. After some careless play in the Costa Rica defense, Alberigo Gianfrancesco 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. The Costa Rica players were disheartened as they walked off the pitch after the first half. XMAS were winning 0-4.

Armando Polidori showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Eliseo Noboa in the 51st minute of the match. Benito Sanz came out of the goal in the 52nd minute to try and stop a shot by XMAS's Ernesto Minichiello. But to his dismay, Ernesto Minichiello quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 0-5. Lautaro Puig hit a great freekick 55 minutes into the match. 58 minutes into the match, Costa Rica's Axel Tasis sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Armando Polidori narrowly saved just below the crossbar. XMAS's attacker deliberately struck the ball against an opponent to win a corner for his team. The corner was taken by Ferruccio Cesaroni in the 62nd minute. After a rather tough play, XMAS's Concetto Marinucci got a free kick in the 63rd minute. Concetto Marinucci kicked well hit freekick during the 64th minute of the match. When Axel Tasis came up free with the goalie in the 65th minute, the Costa Rica 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 Axel Tasis couldn't finish the play. In the 66th match minute, XMAS was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Concetto Marinucci to maneuver through the defense. Costa Rica's Lautaro Puig got a good chance for a goal in the 67th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. When Concetto Marinucci fell near the penalty area in the 70th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored XMAS's protests and gave Concetto Marinucci a yellow card for diving instead. Concetto Marinucci hit a great freekick 70 minutes into the match. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Comunardo Quadrini during the 72nd minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. In the 72nd minute, Comunardo Quadrini hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. In the 75th minute of the match Lautaro Puig sent off a long shot with destination to the right of the goalkeeper, but Armando Polidori skillfully saved the ball. The crowd rose to their feet as Christian Zaccardi kicked a wonderful shot that went in to the left of a diving Benito Sanz. That made the score 0-6 in the 77 minute of play. If Ernesto Minichiello had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 79th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Alberigo Gianfrancesco recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 81st minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. In the 82nd minute, Ernesto Minichiello reached a very good position and smashed the ball with a huge effort into the net, just to the left of Benito Sanz. The goal made the score 0-7. Alan Moruga kicked well hit freekick during the 85th minute of the match. Benito Sanz made an important save on a dangerous shot by Ennio De Nardis in the 93rd minute. XMAS'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.