Challenge

Estadio Nacional
Spectators: 44 (Terracing: 34, 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. Benito Sanz made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Ronaldo Gol in the 2nd minute of play. In the 5th minute Gilvan Chaves 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 6th minute, Alan Moruga hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. After 8 played minutes Costa Rica got a freekick which was hit by Abel Carballo. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Róbson Messias in the 9th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Benito Sanz prevented the ball from getting in the gole. In the 12th minute Róbson Messias 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. A collision led to Costa Rica getting a freekick after 14 minutes play. Aaron Alcocer hit a great ball. An unexpectedly hard shot by Róbson Messias in the 15th minute of play forced Costa Rica's goalkeeper Benito Sanz to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. After a rather tough play, Rockets's Júlio Pires got a free kick in the 17th minute. Ronaldo Gol fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 20th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Benito Sanz having to interfere. Róbson Messias sent away a hard shot on goal in the 21st minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. When the match had gone on for 24 minutes, Róbson Messias put it in 0-2 from a short distance just to the right of Benito Sanz. Costa Rica's Benito Sanz played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Gilvan Chaves in the 28th minute of play. In the 30th minute of the match Rockets got a corner. Costa Rica's goalie ran out to the linesman to protest the call, but the linesman resolutely pointed his flag at the cornerflag. Tales de Carvalho ran over to the corner to take the kick. In the 33rd minute, Costa Rica's Eliseo Noboa ran free of his marker and smoothly shot the ball into the goal behind Benjamin Mazza. Benjamin Mazza yelled at his defense, as they had left him out to dry. 1-2. Costa Rica's Benito Sanz played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Toninho Terra in the 36th minute of play. In the 40th minute, Alexander Carballo hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Aaron Alcocer hit a great freekick 45 minutes into the match. In the 47th match minute, Costa Rica was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Alan Moruga to maneuver through the defense. Luck had favoured the away team in the first, and they walked off with a 1-3 lead.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Róbson Messias was the one to do the kick off. In the 59th minute, Abel Carballo 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. Abel Carballo hit a great ball. In the 61st minute, Tales de Carvalho 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. 63 minutes into the match, Costa Rica's goalkeeper Benito Sanz had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Róbson Messias. Abel Carballo hit a great freekick 64 minutes into the match. Róbson Messias could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 65th minute of the match, but Benito Sanz made a huge save. After 70 played minutes Costa Rica got a freekick which was hit by Aaron Alcocer. Benito Sanz showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Róbson Messias, who was totally free with the ball in the 72nd minute. When Rockets's Róbson Messias in the 76th minute got a chance for a shot 76th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Costa Rica's goalie prevented a goal. In the 78th minute, Róbson Messias made a precise shot to the right of Benito Sanz. Costa Rica's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 1-4. Toninho Terra 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. Gilvan Chaves received a nice pass, split the defenders, and ran untouched towards the goal. Benito Sanz came out and tried to block the shot, but Gilvan Chaves slotted it home off the left post making it 1-5 in the 89th minute. In the 94th minute, Rockets's Ronaldo Gol dribbled the ball into the box and hit a shot with the outside of his foot, sending the keeper the wrong way. 1-6. When the match was over Rockets could go home with a victory in their luggage, having controlled the game far better than Costa Rica throughout the match.