Challenge

Zurlo Arena
Spectators: 41 (Terracing: 32, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) Zurlo Team's Alvise Monti 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 6th minute Lautaro Puig shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Demetrio Crosta saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. After some fancy dribbling in the 9th minute, Eliseo Noboa managed to get in a good position for a shot. Costa Rica's supporters rose to their feet, but Eliseo Noboa was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Demetrio Crosta breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Lautaro Puig struck a weak shot in the 11th minute. Demetrio Crosta didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Costa Rica. If Fabrizio Renzetti had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 20th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. Lautaro Puig sent away a hard shot on goal in the 23rd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. In the 25th match minute, Costa Rica was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Alan Moruga to maneuver through the defense. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Alvise Monti in the 28th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Benito Sanz saved Costa Rica from getting behind. Costa Rica's Benito Sanz played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Cristoforo Verdecchia in the 30th minute of play. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Eliseo Noboa during the 35th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. Lautaro Puig struck a weak shot in the 38th minute. Demetrio Crosta didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Costa Rica. A collision led to Costa Rica getting a freekick after 39 minutes play. Alexander Carballo hit a great ball. In the 44th minute Alvise Monti 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. In the 45th match minute, Costa Rica was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Alan Moruga to maneuver through the defense. The first half was very even, with the score at 0-0 when the whistle went for half-time. The players welcomed the break and quickly retired to the dressing rooms.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Axel Tasis to strike the kick off in the second half. In the 53rd minute, Lautaro Puig hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. A collision led to Costa Rica getting a freekick after 60 minutes play. Aaron Alcocer hit a great ball. In the 61st minute, Alvise Monti left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The Zurlo Team fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 1-0. Demetrio Crosta 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 71st minute. The crowd rose to their feet as Eliseo Noboa kicked a wonderful shot that went in to the left of a diving Demetrio Crosta. That made the score 1-1 in the 71 minute of play. Demetrio Crosta made an important save on a dangerous shot by Lautaro Puig in the 77th minute. After a rather tough play, Costa Rica's Eliseo Noboa got a free kick in the 78th minute. After having played for 82 minutes, Cristoforo Verdecchia managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Zurlo Team's supporters crossed their fingers, but Cristoforo Verdecchia was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Costa Rica's Benito Sanz played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Cristoforo Verdecchia in the 88th minute of play. Axel Tasis fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 91st minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Demetrio Crosta 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 Alvise Monti in the 93rd minute of play. Cristoforo Verdecchia struck a weak shot in the 94th 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 Zurlo Team. Despite being the better team, Zurlo Team failed to find the winning goal and were forced to settle for a single point.