U23 World League

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Spectators: 7463 (Terracing: 5598, Seating: 1716, VIP seats: 149) Hugo Albuquerque made the kick off and thus started the match. Nilson de Souza hit a great freekick 4 minutes into the match. UPAU FC's Cruz Fuster shoveled away a really nice long shot in the 5th minute of play. The shot was stopped by Serginho Taffarel but with some difficulty. After a defensive mix-up in UPAU FC's zone, Nico de Mendonça stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Felix Inocente came out of the goal and Nico de Mendonça tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. In the 11th match minute, MINEIROS was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Hugo Albuquerque to maneuver through the defense. MINEIROS's Serginho Taffarel played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Herminio Guifre in the 12th minute of play. Nico de Mendonça sent away a hard shot on goal in the 14th minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. 14 minutes into the match, UPAU FC's goal looked a bit too open when Nico de Mendonça came free, but Felix Inocente reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Christian Fernandes took a chance and fired a shot far from the goal in the 19th minute, but it turned out to be a dangerous situation for Felix Inocente. UPAU FC's goalkeeper really had to stretch himself to stop the ball from crossing the goal line. After having played for 21 minutes, Nico de Mendonça managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. MINEIROS's supporters crossed their fingers, but Nico de Mendonça 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 24th minute Nico de Mendonça shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Felix Inocente saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Primitivo Abascal made in the 37th minute of the game a quick throw-in and Aaron Barbosa immediately put the ball in play. In the 40th minute Hugo Albuquerque shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Felix Inocente saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 41st minute Hugo Albuquerque shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Felix Inocente saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Hugo Albuquerque received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 45th minute. Felix Inocente tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. After the first half the score was level. The break gave the players a chance to catch their breath, whilst the managers went over the tactics with them again.

Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Hugo Albuquerque in the 53rd minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Felix Inocente prevented the ball from getting in the gole. In the 56th minute, Nico de Mendonça hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Nereo Lia might have been able to make a better finish in the 57th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Serginho Taffarel. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Nereo Lia ran back to his position shaking his head. 58 minutes into the match, Herminio Guifre had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Serginho Taffarel. MINEIROS's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Herminio Guifre was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 1-0. The audience thought a goal was coming when Nico de Mendonça got free with Felix Inocente in the 62nd minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Nereo Lia sent away a hard shot on goal in the 70th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. MINEIROS made a substitution. Vágner Gaspar replaced Christian Fernandes. Nico de Mendonça recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 79th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. The audience thought a goal was coming when Nico de Mendonça got free with Felix Inocente in the 83rd minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. In the 87thth minute of the game Nico de Mendonça who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but UPAU FC's Felix Inocente was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. In the 91st match minute, MINEIROS was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Hugo Albuquerque to maneuver through the defense. Nico de Mendonça received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 94th minute. Felix Inocente tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Aaron Barbosa's late challenge caught a MINEIROS's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Aaron Barbosa helped the player get up and apologised. The crowd rose to their feet and cheered when the referee blew the final whistle. UPAU FC had won after a very even match.