Challenge

Estadio Nacional
Spectators: 45 (Terracing: 35, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Axel Tasis started the match with the kick off. Lyuboslav Popinski's late challenge caught a Costa Rica's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Lyuboslav Popinski helped the player get up and apologised. Belcho Hlebarov fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 7th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Benito Sanz having to interfere. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Belcho Hlebarov in the 9th 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 Belcho Hlebarov during the 12th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. Belcho Hlebarov hit a great freekick 12 minutes into the match. In the 20th minute, Belcho Hlebarov 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 0-2. Benito Sanz made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Belcho Hlebarov in the 27th minute of play. Lautaro Puig struck a weak shot in the 29th minute. Anzhelo Gerushin didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Costa Rica. Dancho Vamporov might have been able to make a better finish in the 31st minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Benito Sanz. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Dancho Vamporov ran back to his position shaking his head. In the 35th minute, Alan Moruga hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. In the 39th minute, Belcho Hlebarov 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. If Eliseo Noboa had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 43rd minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. The Costa Rica players were disheartened as they walked off the pitch after the first half. ЦСКА were winning 0-3.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Belcho Hlebarov made a kick off. Benito Sanz showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Belcho Hlebarov in the 51st minute of the match. Axel Tasis hit a great freekick 53 minutes into the match. The supporters of ЦСКА booed when Costa Rica was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 58 match minutes in a wonderful position. Efrain Moruga didn't get a good kick on the ball. Costa Rica's Eliseo Noboa got a good chance for a goal in the 61st minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. After 62 played minutes ЦСКА got a freekick which was hit by Stoimen Dipchikov. In the 68th match minute, Costa Rica was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Alan Moruga to maneuver through the defense. After recieving a nice pass, ЦСКА's Ivelin Ananiev tried to score from far away in the 69th minute, but the ball went over the crossbar. In the 70th match minute, Costa Rica was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Efrain Moruga to maneuver through the defense. After 80 played minutes Costa Rica got a freekick which was hit by Eliseo Noboa. A sloppy throw-in by Efrain Moruga in the 83rd minute of the game went astray and was snapped up by ЦСКА's Toncho Súrbinski. Bogdan Belberov received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 93rd minute. Benito Sanz tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. After 96 played minutes Costa Rica got a freekick which was hit by Hugo Ferrant. ЦСКА'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.