Challenge

Estadio Nacional
Spectators: 45 (Terracing: 35, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) Cazimir Pătran started the match with the kick off in front of an excited audience. 8 minutes into the game, Cazimir Pătran cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 0-1. Benito Sanz was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. In the 13th match minute, Romania was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Laurențiu Meleșcanu to maneuver through the defense. After some careless play in the Costa Rica defense, Cazimir Pătran kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Benito Sanz. The Costa Rica fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Benito Sanz should have stopped the shot. When Lautaro Puig came up free with the goalie in the 21st minute, the Costa Rica fans jumped to their feet. But the shot missed the goal by a fraction of an inch, and the fans sat back down disappointed that Lautaro Puig couldn't finish the play. The Romania fans' excitement grew in the 23rd match minute when Romania's Cazimir Pătran looked to have a clear shot with the ball near the goal. The shot wasn't hard, but the ball still rolled over the goal line to make it 0-3 before the goalkeeper had a chance to intervene. Toader Burca fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 25th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Benito Sanz having to interfere. Benito Sanz stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Cazimir Pătran's shot from short distance in the 27th minute. Benito Sanz took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Damian Şerb, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Benito Sanz stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Damian Şerb's shot from short distance in the 34th minute. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Cazimir Pătran in the 35th 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. Cazimir Pătran took the ball and in the 37 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Benito Sanz. Benito Sanz dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 0-4. Cazimir Pătran struck a weak shot in the 43rd 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 Romania. A collision led to Costa Rica getting a freekick after 44 minutes play. Juan Rubio hit a great ball. The Costa Rica players were disheartened as they walked off the pitch after the first half. Romania were winning 0-4.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Axel Tasis was the one to do the kick off. Abel Carballo's late challenge caught a Romania's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Abel Carballo helped the player get up and apologised. In the 53rd minute, Abel Carballo hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Romania's Toader Spirache got a good chance for a goal in the 54th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. After a defensive mix-up in Costa Rica's zone, Cazimir Pătran stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Benito Sanz came out of the goal and Cazimir Pătran tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. In the 58th minute, Romania's Cazimir Pătran dribbled the ball into the box and hit a shot with the outside of his foot, sending the keeper the wrong way. 0-5. Romania's Cazimir Pătran got a good chance for a goal in the 63rd minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. The audience thought a goal was coming when Cazimir Pătran got free with Benito Sanz in the 64th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Cazimir Pătran blasted a shot towards the goal in the 67th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Benito Sanz having to make a save. With a little luck, Costa Rica's Benito Sanz got control of the ball when Cazimir Pătran tried to sneak it across the goal line. Alan Moruga hit a great freekick 73 minutes into the match. Andrei Marioara received a nice pass, split the defenders, and ran untouched towards the goal. Benito Sanz came out and tried to block the shot, but Andrei Marioara slotted it home off the left post making it 0-6 in the 77th minute. The audience was convinced that Andrei Marioara's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Benito Sanz was relentless in the 80th minute of the game. 83 minutes into the match, Romania's Andrei Marioara sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Benito Sanz narrowly saved just below the crossbar. If Damian Şerb had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 84th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. Toader Spirache fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 86th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Benito Sanz having to interfere. In the 88th minute Andrei Marioara 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.