Challenge

PARQUE DOS COALAS
Spectators: 40 (Terracing: 31, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Toni Mauzer started the match with the kick off. 7 minutes into the match, Croatia's goalkeeper Ilija Skugor had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Wágner Andrade. In the 13th match minute, Desportivo Coala was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Alex Favoretto to maneuver through the defense. A collision led to Croatia getting a freekick after 16 minutes play. Toni Mauzer hit a great ball. Ilija Skugor made a fantastic save in the 18th minute, when Wágner Andrade sent off a good shot on target. The supporters of Croatia booed when Desportivo Coala was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 21 match minutes in a wonderful position. Alex Favoretto didn't get a good kick on the ball. Ilija Skugor made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Wágner Andrade in the 23rd minute of play. If Wágner Andrade had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 25th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Wágner Andrade in the 27th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Ilija Skugor saved Croatia from getting behind. Wágner Andrade might have been able to make a better finish in the 30th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Ilija Skugor. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Wágner Andrade ran back to his position shaking his head. In the 37th minute Wágner Andrade shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Ilija Skugor saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. After some fancy dribbling in the 42nd minute, Damir Pongrac managed to get in a good position for a shot. Croatia's supporters rose to their feet, but Damir Pongrac was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Fabiano de Medeiros breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Fabiano de Medeiros showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Toni Mauzer in the 44th minute of the match. Eduard Kostelac fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 45th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Fabiano de Medeiros having to interfere. After fighting hard for a draw in the first half, the players were able to take a much needed rest.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Wágner Andrade stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. Wágner Andrade fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 51st minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Ilija Skugor having to interfere. The supporters of Desportivo Coala booed when Croatia was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 52 match minutes in a wonderful position. Eduard Kostelac didn't get a good kick on the ball. In the 55th minute Wágner Andrade shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Ilija Skugor saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. 57 minutes into the match, Croatia's goal looked a bit too open when Wágner Andrade came free, but Ilija Skugor reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Ilija Skugor took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Wágner Andrade, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Croatia's Ilija Skugor played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Mateus Meirelles in the 62nd minute of play. 67 minutes into the game, Paulinho Salles was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Desportivo Coala's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Croatia the free kick. Desportivo Coala's Wágner Andrade got a good chance for a goal in the 71st minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. In the 74th minute, Wágner Andrade ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Ilija Skugor was frozen by the shot and now it was 1-0. 79 minutes in the game João Paulo Cearense did a throw-in, and the ball was quickly in game thanks to Sebastião Moraes. Eduard Kostelac charged in rather forcefully in the 80th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Eduard Kostelac the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. Eduard Kostelac hit a great freekick 80 minutes into the match. After having played for 84 minutes, Toni Mauzer managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Croatia's supporters crossed their fingers, but Toni Mauzer was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. 92 minutes into the game, Desportivo Coala's Sebastião Moraes nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Ilija Skugor made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 2-0. Desportivo Coala walked away with a well-earned victory that was much celebrated by the crowd.