National Team Friendly

National stadium
Spectators: 10300 (Terracing: 7725, Seating: 2369, VIP seats: 206) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Aurelio Badilla got the match started through his kick off. The audience thought a goal was coming when Aurelio Badilla got free with Tadej Pogačar in the 4th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Virgilio Rojas took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Frenkie de Jong, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. 13 minutes into the match, Netherlands's goal looked a bit too open when Jorge Luna came free, but Tadej Pogačar reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 16th minute Frenkie de Jong shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Virgilio Rojas saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Jorge Luna could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 20th minute of the match, but Tadej Pogačar made a huge save. After 37 minutes of play, Netherlands's Frenkie de Jong made it 0-2 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Virgilio Rojas was left in no man's land by his defense there! Netherlands's Tadej Pogačar played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Aurelio Badilla in the 39th minute of play. The audience thought a goal was coming when Leo Calvo got free with Tadej Pogačar in the 44th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Alberto Davila kicked well hit freekick during the 47th minute of the match. The Costa Rica players were disheartened as they walked off the pitch after the first half. Netherlands were winning 0-2.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Guus Harmsen made a kick off. Virgilio Rojas didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Marinus Doren went, in the 53rd minute, to the upper right corner, 0-3 was the resulting score. Cobus Harding kicked well hit freekick during the 59th minute of the match. Robin Boelens'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. Robin Boelens helped the player get up and apologised. After a rather tough play, Netherlands's Robin Boelens got a free kick in the 61st minute. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Frenkie de Jong in the 63rd minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Virgilio Rojas prevented the ball from getting in the gole. Costa Rica's Wilbert Ugalde was substituted for Leo Calvo. Joop Meder kicked well hit freekick during the 74th minute of the match. If Reiner Fallas had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 75th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. The audience was convinced that Frenkie de Jong's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Virgilio Rojas was relentless in the 77th minute of the game. In the 80thth minute of the game Reiner Fallas who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Netherlands's Tadej Pogačar was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. With a little luck, Costa Rica's Virgilio Rojas got control of the ball when Frenkie de Jong tried to sneak it across the goal line. Aurelio Badilla fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 84th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Tadej Pogačar having to interfere. Netherlands's Joop Bakker was substituted for Marinus Doren. With a little luck, Costa Rica's Virgilio Rojas got control of the ball when Frenkie de Jong tried to sneak it across the goal line. The Costa Rica supporters were disappointed that their team didn't take anything from the match, despite matching Netherlands's performance. The match ended with a win for Netherlands.