U23 World League

Estádio Guararapes
Spectators: 7642 (Terracing: 5733, Seating: 1757, VIP seats: 152) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Rui Lamego got the match started through his kick off. A collision led to Guararapes getting a freekick after 2 minutes play. Gabirel Barbosa hit a great ball. With his leg Jerónimo Espírito Santo managed to avoid a goal in the 5thth minute, when Guararapes's João Francisco Machado fired away a shot with a lot of spin towards his right hand side. Paulo Rosa took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Rui Lamego, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Guararapes's Paulo Rosa played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Rui Lamego in the 10th minute of play. After 15 played minutes Miradeses FC got a freekick which was hit by Abel Pegado. A collision led to Guararapes getting a freekick after 15 minutes play. Osmar Nunes hit a great ball. The audience was convinced that João Francisco Machado's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Jerónimo Espírito Santo was relentless in the 17th minute of the game. Guararapes's attacker deliberately struck the ball against an opponent to win a corner for his team. The corner was taken by Glauco Novaes in the 18th minute. In the 20thth minute of the game João Francisco Machado who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Miradeses FC's Jerónimo Espírito Santo was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. With a couple of smart ball manuevers João Francisco Machado in the 22nd managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Jerónimo Espírito Santo saved Miradeses FC from getting behind. Miradeses FC's Jerónimo Espírito Santo proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 23rd minute of the match, managed to save Miradeses FC from getting a goal against them. 25 minutes into the match, Miradeses FC's goal looked a bit too open when Zé Moraes came free, but Jerónimo Espírito Santo reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After 29 minutes of play, Miradeses FC's Abel Pegado made it 0-1 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Paulo Rosa was left in no man's land by his defense there! João Francisco Machados short, quick shot in the 32ndth minute got Jerónimo Espírito Santo to make great effort and bar the ball away from getting in. Paulo Rosa made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Abel Pegado in the 37th minute of play. João Francisco Machado could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 42nd minute of the match, but Jerónimo Espírito Santo made a huge save. Guararapes's Paulo Rosa played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Jordão Rebocho in the 45th minute of play. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling João Francisco Machado in the 48th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Jerónimo Espírito Santo prevented the ball from getting in the gole.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell João Francisco Machado to make the kick off. Jerónimo Espírito Santo stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of João Francisco Machado's shot from short distance in the 54th minute. Guararapes's Paulo Rosa proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 55th minute of the match, managed to save Guararapes from getting a goal against them. When Guararapes's João Francisco Machado in the 56th minute got a chance for a shot 56th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Miradeses FC's goalie prevented a goal. Glauco Novaes kicked well hit freekick during the 59th minute of the match. With a couple of smart ball manuevers João Francisco Machado in the 62nd managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Jerónimo Espírito Santo saved Miradeses FC from getting behind. João Francisco Machado sent away a hard shot on goal in the 63rd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. In the 70th minute Zé Moraes shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Jerónimo Espírito Santo saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. After 71 minutes, Osmar Nunes mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Guararapes and the Miradeses FC players grew even worse after the yellow card. The supporters of Miradeses FC booed when Guararapes was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 71 match minutes in a wonderful position. Osmar Nunes didn't get a good kick on the ball. 72 minutes into the match, Guararapes's goalkeeper Paulo Rosa had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Abel Pegado. Paulo Rosa took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Rui Lamego, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. José Pedro Cardozo struck a weak shot in the 77th minute. Jerónimo Espírito Santo didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Guararapes. If Cristiano Senna had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 81st minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. The audience was convinced that José Pedro Cardozo's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Jerónimo Espírito Santo was relentless in the 83rd minute of the game. Guararapes's Cesinha Queirós suffered a sore thigh after 85 minutes and couldn't finish the game. Gusmão Menezes charged in rather forcefully in the 85th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Gusmão Menezes the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. A collision led to Miradeses FC getting a freekick after 86 minutes play. Gusmão Menezes hit a great ball. 88 minutes into the game, Cristiano Senna was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Guararapes's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Miradeses FC the free kick. Guararapes's Cristiano Senna got a good chance for a goal in the 91st minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Jerónimo Espírito Santo showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Osmar Nunes, who was totally free with the ball in the 93rd minute. After recieving a nice pass, Miradeses FC's Jordão Rebocho tried to score from far away in the 96th minute, but the ball went over the crossbar. The Miradeses FC supporters could be heard counting down the last seconds of the match. They errupted in celebration when the whistle blew, knowing Miradeses FC would go home with victory in their luggage after a match that easily could have ended differently.