Friendly League

Arena Da Matta
Spectators: 36 (Terracing: 28, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when Ionică Iriza kicked off to start the match. An unexpectedly hard shot by Ionică Iriza in the 4th minute of play forced Clube Atlético Luziense's goalkeeper Jairo Fonseca to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. After 5 played minutes Clube Atlético Luziense got a freekick which was hit by Flavinho Luz. A collision led to English Fire getting a freekick after 6 minutes play. Lucian Bologa hit a great ball. In the 8th minute, English Fire's goalie took a deep sigh of relief after Geraldo de Sena fired away a hard shot that went just outside the left post. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Lucian Bologa during the 9th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. After 9 played minutes English Fire got a freekick which was hit by Lucian Bologa. Luciano Rodrigues blasted a shot towards the goal in the 13th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Emanuel Predescu having to make a save. Jairo Fonseca showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Pavel Nișu in the 15th minute of the match. The audience thought a goal was coming when Luciano Rodrigues got free with Emanuel Predescu in the 21st minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Emanuel Predescu made a fantastic save in the 22nd minute, when Luciano Rodrigues sent off a good shot on target. After 23 played minutes English Fire got a freekick which was hit by Lucian Bologa. After some fancy dribbling in the 24th minute, Geraldo de Sena managed to get in a good position for a shot. Clube Atlético Luziense's supporters rose to their feet, but Geraldo de Sena was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Emanuel Predescu breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. In the 26th minute, Iustin Macavei hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Flavinho Luz was probably a little too eager to shoot when he, in the 27th played minute, shot the ball from way out. The shot was hard, but the ball flew wide of the goal. Geraldo de Sena might have been able to make a better finish in the 31st minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Emanuel Predescu. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Geraldo de Sena ran back to his position shaking his head. Pavel Nișu received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 32nd minute. Jairo Fonseca tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. A collision led to English Fire getting a freekick after 35 minutes play. Iacob Chiose hit a great ball. When Geraldo de Sena came up free with the goalie in the 36th minute, the Clube Atlético Luziense fans jumped to their feet. But the shot missed the goal by a fraction of an inch, and the fans sat back down disappointed that Geraldo de Sena couldn't finish the play. After a rather tough play, English Fire's Gigi Grigore got a free kick in the 37th minute. Luciano Rodrigues received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 38th minute. Emanuel Predescu tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Clube Atlético Luziense's Jairo Fonseca played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Ionică Iriza in the 40th minute of play. After 43 played minutes Clube Atlético Luziense got a freekick which was hit by Flavinho Luz. The fans had the chance to grab some refreshments as the whistle went for half-time. The score stood at 0-0 after a close first half.

Iacob Chiose charged in rather forcefully in the 52nd minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Iacob Chiose the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. In the 52nd match minute, English Fire was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Iacob Chiose to maneuver through the defense. After a rather tough play, English Fire's Ionică Iriza got a free kick in the 57th minute. When Clube Atlético Luziense's Luciano Rodrigues in the 58th minute got a chance for a shot 58th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye English Fire's goalie prevented a goal. Gigi Grigore hit a great freekick 61 minutes into the match. Ionică Iriza sent away a hard shot on goal in the 67th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. The audience thought a goal was coming when Ionică Iriza got free with Jairo Fonseca in the 70th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. English Fire's Valer Hăulică got a good chance for a goal in the 78th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Manole Silişteanu kicked well hit freekick during the 80th minute of the match. Geraldo de Sena struck a weak shot in the 82nd minute. Emanuel Predescu didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Clube Atlético Luziense. Emanuel Predescu showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Geraldo de Sena in the 88th minute of the match. The supporters of Clube Atlético Luziense booed when English Fire was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 90 match minutes in a wonderful position. Ionică Iriza didn't get a good kick on the ball. In the 93rd minute, Ionică Iriza left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The English Fire fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 0-2. When the match was over English Fire could go home with a victory in their luggage, having controlled the game far better than Clube Atlético Luziense throughout the match.