Challenge

NEM CT Stadium
Spectators: 50 (Terracing: 38, Seating: 11, VIP seats: 1) New England Minas's Edgardo Silva 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. Wilson Amorim took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Edgardo Silva, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. New England Minas's attacker deliberately struck the ball against an opponent to win a corner for his team. The corner was taken by Conny Tingberg in the 6th minute. A well-hit corner resulted in Oscar Nordmark heading the ball towards the goal, but to his dismay he misdirected it and missed the goal completely. After a rather tough play, Portugal's Viriato Moura got a free kick in the 10th minute. After 12 minutes Portugal's defender was forced to head the ball over the line for a corner. It was Conny Tingberg who took care of the corner kick. Wilson Amorim came out of the goal in the 14th minute to try and stop a shot by New England Minas's Edgardo Silva. But to his dismay, Edgardo Silva quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 1-0. In the 20th match minute, New England Minas was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Ye Gang Cheng to maneuver through the defense. A collision led to Portugal getting a freekick after 25 minutes play. Bruno Bastos hit a great ball. A collision led to New England Minas getting a freekick after 27 minutes play. Ye Gang Cheng hit a great ball. 28 minutes into the match, Viriato Moura had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Jeremy Nicholas. New England Minas's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Viriato Moura was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 1-2. After some fancy dribbling in the 33rd minute, Daniel Pimentel managed to get in a good position for a shot. Portugal's supporters rose to their feet, but Daniel Pimentel was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Jeremy Nicholas breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. An unexpectedly hard shot by Daniel Pimentel in the 33rd minute of play forced New England Minas's goalkeeper Jeremy Nicholas to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Jeremy Nicholas showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Daniel Pimentel, who was totally free with the ball in the 37th minute. In the 38th minute, Edgardo Silva ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Wilson Amorim was frozen by the shot and now it was 2-2. Viriato Moura fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 45th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Jeremy Nicholas having to interfere. 46 minutes into the match, New England Minas's goal looked a bit too open when Viriato Moura came free, but Jeremy Nicholas reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Jeremy Nicholas showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Graciano Coutinho, who was totally free with the ball in the 48th minute. The first half was very even, with the score at 2-2 when the whistle went for half-time. The players welcomed the break and quickly retired to the dressing rooms.

If Edgardo Silva had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 52nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. An unexpectedly hard shot by Tony Pacheco in the 54th minute of play forced Portugal's goalkeeper Wilson Amorim to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. New England Minas's Tio Lio was substituted for Edgardo Silva. New England Minas were awarded a corner in the 60th minute after Portugal's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Conny Tingberg took the corner. Tony Pacheco received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 61st minute. Wilson Amorim tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. In the 63rd minute Lalo Rosas shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Wilson Amorim saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. 65 minutes into the game, Caetano Moreira was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Portugal's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave New England Minas the free kick. 68 minutes had been played when some careless play by Portugal's defense caused the ball to cross the line for a corner. Conny Tingberg was slow to take the kick. During this time New England Minas's players had a chance to rest. Portugal's Felipinho Amorim was substituted for Felipe Barreto. Portugal's Bartolomeu Dias was substituted for Viriato Moura. If Oscar Nordmark had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 75th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Tony Pacheco sent away a hard shot on goal in the 81st minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After having played for 82 minutes, Oscar Nordmark managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. New England Minas's supporters crossed their fingers, but Oscar Nordmark was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. 4-2 became the score in the 84th minute when Tony Pacheco elegantly shot the ball into goal just under the crossbar. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Tio Lio in the 89th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Wilson Amorim saved Portugal from getting behind. In the 91st match minute, New England Minas was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Glen Conklin to maneuver through the defense. Bartolomeu Dias took the ball and in the 92 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Jeremy Nicholas. Jeremy Nicholas dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 4-3. After a rather tough play, Portugal's Caetano Moreira got a free kick in the 95th minute. New England Minas walked away with a well-earned victory that was much celebrated by the crowd.