Challenge

Estadio Nacional
Spectators: 45 (Terracing: 35, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Richard Linhares got the match started through his kick off. In the 3rd minute Eliseo Noboa shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Nestor Paraibano saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Richard Linhares hit a great freekick 4 minutes into the match. In the 5th minute, Axel Tasis reached a very good position and smashed the ball with a huge effort into the net, just to the left of Nestor Paraibano. The goal made the score 1-0. After 9 played minutes Magnifico FC - FSCMZ got a freekick which was hit by Chicão Novaes. A collision led to Magnifico FC - FSCMZ getting a freekick after 11 minutes play. Richard Linhares hit a great ball. Benito Sanz showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Alan Machado, who was totally free with the ball in the 13th minute. Axel Tasis who was well placed in front of the goal fired away a dangerous shot that in the 17thth minute tested the skills of Nestor Paraibano when he managed to save the team from getting behind. If Lautaro Puig had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 17th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Alan Machado in the 22nd 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. 24 minutes into the game, Alan Machado cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 1-1. Benito Sanz was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. If Richard Senna had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 27th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. In the 29th minute Alan Machado 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. After a rather tough play, Costa Rica's Lautaro Puig got a free kick in the 34th minute. In the 36th minute Richard Linhares 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. 39 minutes into the match, Richard Linhares had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Benito Sanz. Costa Rica's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Richard Linhares was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 1-2. Cícero Faria'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. Cícero Faria helped the player get up and apologised. In the 42nd minute, Cícero Faria hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Even after changing tactics the home team jogged off the field with a 1-2 deficit. They would have to work harder if they wanted to turn things around in the second half.

An unexpectedly hard shot by Eliseo Noboa in the 52nd minute of play forced Magnifico FC - FSCMZ's goalkeeper Nestor Paraibano to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Benito Sanz was in the perfect position, and the defense had done a good job marking him, but Richard Senna showcased his skills and made a perfect shot to score 1-3 in the 53 minute of play. 57 minutes into the match, Costa Rica's goal looked a bit too open when Richard Linhares came free, but Benito Sanz reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Nestor Paraibano made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Axel Tasis in the 60th minute of play. After 62 played minutes Costa Rica got a freekick which was hit by Alan Moruga. After some fancy dribbling in the 68th minute, Richard Linhares managed to get in a good position for a shot. Magnifico FC - FSCMZ's supporters rose to their feet, but Richard Linhares was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Benito Sanz breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Benito Sanz took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Alan Machado, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. The audience was convinced that Alan Machado's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Benito Sanz was relentless in the 76th minute of the game. Benito Sanz made a fantastic save in the 83rd minute, when Alan Machado sent off a good shot on target. In the 85th minute Richard Linhares 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. Benito Sanz took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Alan Machado, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Benito Sanz was a little too slow when Richard Linhares got a fine hit on the ball which went right into the goal in the 91st minute. The score was now 1-4. The Costa Rica fans had already started to leave before the final whistle blew. Magnifico FC - FSCMZ were clearly better and deserved to take the win.