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 Hector Ruiz got the match started through his kick off. In the 5th minute, Derek Cooke left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The U21 Scotland fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 0-1. After having played for 9 minutes, Hector Ruiz managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. U21 Costa Rica's supporters crossed their fingers, but Hector Ruiz was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. The audience thought a goal was coming when Hector Ruiz got free with Finlay McDermid in the 12th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. U21 Scotland's attacker deliberately struck the ball against an opponent to win a corner for his team. The corner was taken by Hernández Fernández in the 14th minute. Derek Cooke's late challenge caught a U21 Costa Rica's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Derek Cooke helped the player get up and apologised. Finlay McDermid came out of the goal in the 16th minute to try and stop a shot by U21 Costa Rica's Napoleon Carazo. But to his dismay, Napoleon Carazo quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 1-1. In the 24th minute of the match U21 Scotland got a corner. U21 Costa Rica's goalie ran out to the linesman to protest the call, but the linesman resolutely pointed his flag at the cornerflag. Hernández Fernández ran over to the corner to take the kick. The corner led U21 Scotland's Davie McAy to fire away a dangerous shot which Gabe Conejo despite some difficulties managed to get hold on the ball. Gabe Conejo made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Hernández Fernández in the 29th minute of play. Gabe Conejo showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Hernández Fernández, who was totally free with the ball in the 33rd minute. Gabe Conejo showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Steven Mein, who was totally free with the ball in the 38th minute. After 39 minutes, Luis Marin mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the U21 Costa Rica and the U21 Scotland players grew even worse after the yellow card. Luis Marin kicked well hit freekick during the 40th minute of the match. Steven Mein sent away a hard shot on goal in the 41st minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After a rather tough play, U21 Scotland's Derek Cooke got a free kick in the 43rd minute. In the 46th minute Steven Mein shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Gabe Conejo saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. After a very even first half the match was still tied. The players went to their respective dressing rooms to discuss the tactics for the second half.

U21 Costa Rica's Stanley Bermudez was substituted for Alexis Arrieta. 53 minutes into the match, U21 Costa Rica's goal looked a bit too open when Steven Mein came free, but Gabe Conejo reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. 56 minutes into the match, Napoleon Carazo had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Finlay McDermid. U21 Scotland's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Napoleon Carazo was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 2-1. Finlay McDermid showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Napoleon Carazo in the 59th minute of the match. Hector Ruiz kicked well hit freekick during the 60th minute of the match. U21 Costa Rica made a substitution. Manrique Medina replaced Hector Ruiz. In the 61st minute, Hector Ruiz hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. If Napoleon Carazo had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 63rd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Finlay McDermid showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Manrique Medina, who was totally free with the ball in the 67th minute. In the 70th minute, Jorge Padilla hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. The supporters of U21 Costa Rica booed when U21 Scotland was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 73 match minutes in a wonderful position. Steven Mein didn't get a good kick on the ball. U21 Costa Rica's Gabe Conejo played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Steven Mein in the 76th minute of play. Finlay McDermid showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Manrique Medina in the 77th minute of the match. The U21 Costa Rica fans' excitement grew in the 79th match minute when U21 Costa Rica's Manrique Medina 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 3-1 before the goalkeeper had a chance to intervene. The supporters of U21 Scotland booed when U21 Costa Rica was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 83 match minutes in a wonderful position. Manrique Medina didn't get a good kick on the ball. 85 minutes into the game, Napoleon Carazo cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 4-1. Finlay McDermid was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. 89 minutes into the game, Jorge Padilla was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. U21 Costa Rica's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave U21 Scotland the free kick. The supporters of U21 Scotland booed when U21 Costa Rica was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 89 match minutes in a wonderful position. Jorge Padilla didn't get a good kick on the ball. Hernández Fernández took a chance and fired a shot far from the goal in the 90th minute, but it turned out to be a dangerous situation for Gabe Conejo. U21 Costa Rica's goalkeeper really had to stretch himself to stop the ball from crossing the goal line. An unexpectedly hard shot by Manrique Medina in the 91st minute of play forced U21 Scotland's goalkeeper Finlay McDermid to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. 95 minutes into the match, U21 Scotland's goal looked a bit too open when Napoleon Carazo came free, but Finlay McDermid reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After 97 minutes U21 Scotland's defender was forced to head the ball over the line for a corner. It was Luis Marin who took care of the corner kick. After taking down the ball on U21 Costa Rica's corner Luis Marin fired away a hard shot, but the defenders efficiently covered the most dangerous angles and Finlay McDermid quite easily take care of the ball. When the referee ended the match the U21 Costa Rica players were able to celebrate. They had won a fair victory and recieved the ovations of their fans.