Friendly League

ALICO ARENA
Spectators: 35 (Terracing: 27, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) Caatiba MZC's Niceto Ihazintu 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. If Niceto Ihazintu had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 9th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. Luis Nardo made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Niceto Ihazintu in the 9th minute of play. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Niceto Ihazintu in the 9th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Luis Nardo saved Florida Gulf Coast from getting behind. The corner led to Caatiba MZC's Natã Siqueira getting away a dangerous shot that went just outside the goal. If Lukáš Katačić had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 14th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. An unexpectedly hard shot by Niceto Ihazintu in the 16th minute of play forced Florida Gulf Coast's goalkeeper Luis Nardo to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. 17 minutes into the match, Caatiba MZC's goalkeeper Ergo Muro had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Lukáš Katačić. After some fancy dribbling in the 18th minute, Niceto Ihazintu managed to get in a good position for a shot. Caatiba MZC's supporters rose to their feet, but Niceto Ihazintu was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Luis Nardo breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. The audience was convinced that Niceto Ihazintu's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Luis Nardo was relentless in the 21st minute of the game. In the 23rd minute Caatiba MZC were awarded a corner. Gaby Milito went to the cornerflag to take it. Florida Gulf Coast were awarded a corner in the 29th minute after Caatiba MZC's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. John James took the corner. A well-hit corner resulted in Lukáš Katačić heading the ball towards the goal, but to his dismay he misdirected it and missed the goal completely. If Niceto Ihazintu had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 31st minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. Luis Nardo took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Niceto Ihazintu, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Luis Nardo made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Niceto Ihazintu in the 36th minute of play. 38 minutes into the match, Florida Gulf Coast's Lukáš Katačić sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Ergo Muro narrowly saved just below the crossbar. In the 40th match minute, Caatiba MZC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Niceto Ihazintu to maneuver through the defense. The attack was good, but when Lukáš Katačić in the 44th minute was about to shoot he didn't kick quite good enough and the ball went high over goal. Niceto Ihazintu might have been able to make a better finish in the 47th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Luis Nardo. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Niceto Ihazintu ran back to his position shaking his head. 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.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Lukáš Katačić made a kick off. A collision led to Caatiba MZC getting a freekick after 51 minutes play. Niceto Ihazintu hit a great ball. Lukáš Katačić fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 52nd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Ergo Muro having to interfere. A collision led to Florida Gulf Coast getting a freekick after 55 minutes play. John James hit a great ball. In the 58th minute, Niceto Ihazintu reached a very good position and smashed the ball with a huge effort into the net, just to the left of Luis Nardo. The goal made the score 0-1. Florida Gulf Coast's defense didn't have a chance, in the 61st minute, when Niceto Ihazintu scored to the left of an out of position Luis Nardo, making the score, 0-2. Florida Gulf Coast's Luis Nardo played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Niceto Ihazintu in the 68th minute of play. Niceto Ihazintu might have been able to make a better finish in the 73rd minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Luis Nardo. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Niceto Ihazintu ran back to his position shaking his head. Niceto Ihazintu's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Luis Nardo read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 73rd minute of play. 76 minutes into the match, Florida Gulf Coast's goalkeeper Luis Nardo had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Niceto Ihazintu. In the 76th minute, Eleuterio Fiz hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. The supporters of Caatiba MZC booed when Florida Gulf Coast was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 78 match minutes in a wonderful position. Lukáš Katačić didn't get a good kick on the ball. Caatiba MZC's Niceto Ihazintu got a good chance for a goal in the 79th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. With an all-out effort, Caatiba MZC's Luis Nardo threw himself towards the right post 82 minutes into the match and grabbed hold of the ball from Niceto Ihazintu, which otherwise would have been placed in the net. 88 minutes into the match, Florida Gulf Coast's goal looked a bit too open when Niceto Ihazintu came free, but Luis Nardo reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After 91 played minutes Florida Gulf Coast got a freekick which was hit by Eleuterio Fiz. Florida Gulf Coast's Luis Nardo proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 95th minute of the match, managed to save Florida Gulf Coast from getting a goal against them. The away crowd were delighted with the way their team had played and cheered loudly when the final whistle sounded. Caatiba MZC walked away with the win, even though the match was close until the end.