Friendly League

Victory’s Cage
Spectators: 35 (Terracing: 27, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) Real Astoria FC's Carlos Mattos started the match with a crisp pass. The crowd had been anticipating this game for weeks and the excitement in the stadium was easily visible. Edries Kanku who was well placed in front of the goal fired away a dangerous shot that in the 4thth minute tested the skills of Hílton Pinho when he managed to save the team from getting behind. Toninho Mangueira hit a great freekick 6 minutes into the match. Carlos Mattos sent away a hard shot on goal in the 9th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Lino Vargas hit a great freekick 17 minutes into the match. In the 18th minute of the match Sibongile Makweni sent off a long shot with destination to the right of the goalkeeper, but Hílton Pinho skillfully saved the ball. Ebrahim Mokatimi charged in rather forcefully in the 20th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Ebrahim Mokatimi the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. After a rather tough play, Victory Beasts's Ebrahim Mokatimi got a free kick in the 20th minute. After 21 played minutes, Real Astoria FC's Enrique Teixeira shot from a long distance, and at first it looked like the ball was going into the goal, but the goalkeeper Papi Mkhonza came through and got his fingers on the ball before it flew over the goal line. He then quickly gripped the ball tighter before the forwards in Real Astoria FC reached it. 22 minutes into the match, Victory Beasts's Edries Kanku sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Hílton Pinho narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Carlos Mattos recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 25th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Real Astoria FC's Hílton Pinho played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Bradley Kanku in the 27th minute of play. In the 32nd minute the ball was on its way in behind Victory Beasts's goalkeeper Papi Mkhonza, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. A collision led to Victory Beasts getting a freekick after 33 minutes play. Ebrahim Mokatimi hit a great ball. After 34 minutes of play, Real Astoria FC's Carlos Mattos made it 0-1 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Papi Mkhonza was left in no man's land by his defense there! In the 38th minute, Baltazar Vargas hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. After a defensive mix-up in Victory Beasts's zone, Carlos Mattos stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Papi Mkhonza came out of the goal and Carlos Mattos tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Disappointed in the 0-1 score, the home team went to the dressing room to adjust tactics for the second half.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Bradley Kanku stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. After a rather tough play, Real Astoria FC's Jardel Machado got a free kick in the 50th minute. In the 52nd minute Edries Kanku shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Hílton Pinho saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Hílton Pinho took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Bradley Kanku, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. If Edries Kanku had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 64th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Sydney Barral kicked well hit freekick during the 65th minute of the match. Bradley Kanku received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 66th minute. Hílton Pinho tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Toninho Mangueira received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 68th minute. Papi Mkhonza tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. After having played for 77 minutes, Edries Kanku managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Victory Beasts's supporters crossed their fingers, but Edries Kanku was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. If Carlos Mattos had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 83rd minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. Victory Beasts's Ebrahim Mokatimi got his second yellow card of the match in the 85th minute. The referee ordered Ebrahim Mokatimi off the ground. In the 86th minute, Ebrahim Mokatimi hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. 88 minutes into the match, Victory Beasts's Gordon Tshabalala sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Hílton Pinho narrowly saved just below the crossbar. In the 88th match minute, Real Astoria FC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Betinho Dracena to maneuver through the defense.