Challenge

Iveagh Grounds
Spectators: 50 (Terracing: 38, Seating: 11, VIP seats: 1) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Pearse McWilliam started the match with the kick off. St. James Gate F.C.'s Barhart Costello was standing unmarked in front of the goal when he, in the 3rd play minute, got the ball and easily drilled it into the goal. A collision led to Costa Rica getting a freekick after 5 minutes play. Lautaro Puig hit a great ball. A collision led to St. James Gate F.C. getting a freekick after 8 minutes play. Barnaby Bayes hit a great ball. Brigid Rutherford didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Eliseo Noboa went, in the 9th minute, to the upper right corner, 1-1 was the resulting score. Benito Sanz made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Barhart Costello in the 13th minute of play. In the 15th match minute, Costa Rica was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Efrain Moruga to maneuver through the defense. Tipper Savic struck a weak shot in the 15th 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 St. James Gate F.C.. Benito Sanz took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Barhart Costello, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 19th minute St. James Gate F.C. were awarded a corner. Tipper Savic went to the cornerflag to take it. After a rather tough play, Costa Rica's Eliseo Noboa got a free kick in the 20th minute. In the 22nd minute Axel Tasis shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Brigid Rutherford saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. The crowd rose to their feet as Barhart Costello kicked a wonderful shot that went in to the left of a diving Benito Sanz. That made the score 2-1 in the 23 minute of play. Pearse McWilliam received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 26th minute. Benito Sanz tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Benito Sanz was a little too slow when Barhart Costello got a fine hit on the ball which went right into the goal in the 32nd minute. The score was now 4-1. 36 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 Pearse McWilliam. 43 minutes into the match, Costa Rica's goal looked a bit too open when Barhart Costello came free, but Benito Sanz reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. The crowd rose to their feet as St. James Gate F.C.'s Hewney Kirby slotted home a wonderful shot that went in to the left of Benito Sanz. That made the score 5-1 after 44 minutes of play. Lautaro Puig's late challenge caught a St. James Gate F.C.'s player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Lautaro Puig helped the player get up and apologised. After 47 played minutes Costa Rica got a freekick which was hit by Lautaro Puig.

An unexpectedly hard shot by Eliseo Noboa in the 51st minute of play forced St. James Gate F.C.'s goalkeeper Brigid Rutherford to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 54th minute, Hewney Kirby 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 6-1. St. James Gate F.C.'s Pearse McWilliam got a good chance for a goal in the 61st minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. In the 62nd match minute, Costa Rica was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Aaron Alcocer to maneuver through the defense. After 64 minutes, Tipper Savic mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the St. James Gate F.C. and the Costa Rica players grew even worse after the yellow card. After 64 played minutes St. James Gate F.C. got a freekick which was hit by Tipper Savic. In the 66th minute Hewney Kirby 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. Costa Rica's Lautaro Puig got a good chance for a goal in the 71st minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. In the 72nd match minute, Costa Rica was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Juan Rubio to maneuver through the defense. Burke Martyn sent away a hard shot on goal in the 73rd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. 75 minutes into the game, Aaron Walker was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. St. James Gate F.C.'s manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Costa Rica the free kick. Aaron Walker hit a great freekick 75 minutes into the match. When Costa Rica's Eliseo Noboa 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 St. James Gate F.C.'s goalie prevented a goal. 77 minutes into the match, Costa Rica's goal looked a bit too open when Pearse McWilliam came free, but Benito Sanz reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After 78 played minutes Costa Rica got a freekick which was hit by Alexander Carballo. Benito Sanz came out of the goal in the 80th minute to try and stop a shot by St. James Gate F.C.'s Barhart Costello. But to his dismay, Barhart Costello quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 7-1. After having played for 84 minutes, Barhart Costello managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. St. James Gate F.C.'s supporters crossed their fingers, but Barhart Costello was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. In the 86th minute, Barhart Costello 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 8-1. Efrain Moruga was astounded when the referee showed him the red card after a seemingly innocent challenge, 91 minutes into the match. In the 90th minute, one of Costa Rica:s players had the ball in front of the goal but got pushed and fell. The referee felt it was an obvious case and blew a penalty for Costa Rica. Pearse McWilliam shot the penalty kick right outside the post. 96 minutes into the match, Costa Rica's goal looked a bit too open when Hewney Kirby came free, but Benito Sanz reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. St. James Gate F.C. walked away with a well-earned victory that was much celebrated by the crowd.