Challenge

XMAS park
Spectators: 40 (Terracing: 31, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) Alan Moruga's late challenge caught a XMAS's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Alan Moruga helped the player get up and apologised. In the 4th minute, Alan Moruga hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. In the 5th minute, Ennio De Nardis 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. After some fancy dribbling in the 8th minute, Alberigo Gianfrancesco managed to get in a good position for a shot. XMAS's supporters rose to their feet, but Alberigo Gianfrancesco 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. Ernesto Minichiello had several of the Costa Rica's defenders around him in the penalty area when he, after 9 minutes of play, received a pass and succeeded in some way to shoot a shot which went straight ahead into goal. This resulted in a 1-0 score and a disappointed Benito Sanz as he didn't even see the shot coming. The audience was convinced that Ernesto Minichiello's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Benito Sanz was relentless in the 12th minute of the game. Ennio De Nardis fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 18th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Benito Sanz having to interfere. Eliseo Noboa charged in rather forcefully in the 19th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Eliseo Noboa the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. In the 19th minute, Eliseo Noboa hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. 22 minutes into the game, Aaron Alcocer was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Costa Rica's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave XMAS the free kick. The supporters of XMAS booed when Costa Rica was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 22 match minutes in a wonderful position. Aaron Alcocer didn't get a good kick on the ball. Armando Polidori showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Axel Tasis, who was totally free with the ball in the 26th minute. Benito Sanz showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Alberigo Gianfrancesco in the 35th minute of the match. Benito Sanz took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Ernesto Minichiello, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. 40 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 Ferruccio Cesaroni. Benito Sanz made a fantastic save in the 42nd minute, when Ennio De Nardis sent off a good shot on target. The supporters of Costa Rica booed when XMAS was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 44 match minutes in a wonderful position. Ferruccio Cesaroni didn't get a good kick on the ball. Benito Sanz took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Ernesto Minichiello, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. All the noise was coming from the home fans when the whistle went for half-time. The home team had fought hardest to put themselves in a deserved lead.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Axel Tasis to make the kick off. Ennio De Nardis struck a weak shot in the 52nd 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 XMAS. In the 52nd minute, Ernesto Minichiello made a precise shot to the right of Benito Sanz. Costa Rica's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 2-0. If Axel Tasis had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 55th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. 68 minutes into the game, XMAS's Ernesto Minichiello nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Benito Sanz made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 3-0. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Ernesto Minichiello in the 72nd managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Benito Sanz saved Costa Rica from getting behind. When XMAS's Ennio De Nardis in the 73rd minute got a chance for a shot 73rd didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Costa Rica's goalie prevented a goal. If Alberigo Gianfrancesco had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 80th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Alexander Carballo hit a great freekick 87 minutes into the match. An unexpectedly hard shot by Alberigo Gianfrancesco in the 94th minute of play forced Costa Rica's goalkeeper Benito Sanz to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. XMAS's supporters were delighted with their team's performance and swarmed onto the pitch at the end of the match to celebrate the victory with the players.