Challenge

Estadio Nacional
Spectators: 44 (Terracing: 34, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) Abdurrahim Şahinoğlu made the kick off and thus started the match. The supporters of Costa Rica booed when ....... was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 5 match minutes in a wonderful position. Kahraman Turan didn't get a good kick on the ball. After 8 played minutes Costa Rica got a freekick which was hit by Juan Rubio. Benito Sanz took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Abdurrahim Şahinoğlu, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Benito Sanz didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Abdurrahim Şahinoğlu went, in the 18th minute, to the upper right corner, 0-1 was the resulting score. After 23 minutes of play, .......'s Abdurrahim Şahinoğlu made it 0-2 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Benito Sanz was left in no man's land by his defense there! Efrain Moruga was astounded when the referee showed him the red card after a seemingly innocent challenge, 26 minutes into the match. A collision led to Costa Rica getting a freekick after 27 minutes play. Efrain Moruga hit a great ball. After a defensive mix-up in Costa Rica's zone, Abdurrahim Şahinoğlu stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Benito Sanz came out of the goal and Abdurrahim Şahinoğlu tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. In the 32nd minute, Arcan Ekinci hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Benito Sanz made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Zafer Erokay in the 42nd minute of play. In the 47th match minute, Costa Rica was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Lautaro Puig to maneuver through the defense. After the first half ....... were leading 0-2. They had played with great self confidence throughout the first half and fully deserved their lead.

The wind increased when Eliseo Noboa made the kick off in the second half. Costa Rica's Lautaro Puig got a good chance for a goal in the 53rd minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. After 57 played minutes Costa Rica got a freekick which was hit by Aaron Alcocer. Ulvi Pehlivan kicked well hit freekick during the 62nd minute of the match. Axel Tasis hit a great freekick 68 minutes into the match. If Arcan Ekinci had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 71st minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Benito Sanz made an important save on a dangerous shot by Abdurrahim Şahinoğlu in the 76th minute. Costa Rica's defense didn't have a chance, in the 80th minute, when Arcan Ekinci scored to the left of an out of position Benito Sanz, making the score, 0-3. In the 83rd match minute, Costa Rica was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Aaron Alcocer to maneuver through the defense. Zafer Erokay hit a great freekick 87 minutes into the match. Eliseo Noboa received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 91st minute. Ahmet Orhan Usal tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. In the 95th minute Kahraman Turan 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. ....... played a much better game than Costa Rica and deserved their victory. The Costa Rica players were clearly disappointed as they left the ground.