Friendly League

Orange Grove
Spectators: 35 (Terracing: 27, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Marvin Dubose got the match started through his kick off. A collision led to Pogradeci FCA getting a freekick after 3 minutes play. Stanton Kurtz hit a great ball. After having played for 4 minutes, Célio Custódio managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Santos FC's supporters crossed their fingers, but Célio Custódio was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. In the 7th match minute, Santos FC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Beto Domingues to maneuver through the defense. Luciano Sito stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Célio Custódio's shot from short distance in the 14th minute. Sílvio Luiz Amaral sent away a hard shot on goal in the 17th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. An unexpectedly hard shot by Sílvio Luiz Amaral in the 32nd minute of play forced Pogradeci FCA's goalkeeper Luciano Sito to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. After a defensive mix-up in Pogradeci FCA's zone, Sílvio Luiz Amaral stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Luciano Sito came out of the goal and Sílvio Luiz Amaral tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Célio Custódio received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 38th minute. Luciano Sito tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. The supporters of Santos FC booed when Pogradeci FCA was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 39 match minutes in a wonderful position. Freddy Dewitt didn't get a good kick on the ball. Lane Key fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 46th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Zé Roberto do Vale having to interfere. After a very even first half the match was still tied. The players went to their respective dressing rooms to discuss the tactics for the second half.

The wind increased when Sílvio Luiz Amaral made the kick off in the second half. 52 minutes into the game, Pogradeci FCA's Lane Key nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Zé Roberto do Vale made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 1-0. The crowd rose to their feet as Santos FC's Sílvio Luiz Amaral slotted home a wonderful shot that went in to the left of Luciano Sito. That made the score 1-1 after 55 minutes of play. When the match clock showed 62 minutes, the score became 1-2 when Beto Domingues sped through Pogradeci FCA's defense and sent away a curving shot that went into the net to the right of Luciano Sito. After having played for 68 minutes, Célio Custódio managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Santos FC's supporters crossed their fingers, but Célio Custódio was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Matt Esquivel charged in rather forcefully in the 71st minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Matt Esquivel the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. In the 76th minute, Marvin Dubose ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Zé Roberto do Vale was frozen by the shot and now it was 2-2. After some fancy dribbling in the 81st minute, Sílvio Luiz Amaral managed to get in a good position for a shot. Santos FC's supporters rose to their feet, but Sílvio Luiz Amaral was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Luciano Sito breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Freddy Dewitt hit a great freekick 83 minutes into the match. In the 84th minute Sílvio Luiz Amaral shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Luciano Sito saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Santos FC's Zé Roberto do Vale played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Lane Key in the 87th minute of play. Marvin Dubose sent away a hard shot on goal in the 89th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. When Sílvio Luiz Amaral came up free with the goalie in the 92nd minute, the Santos FC 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 Sílvio Luiz Amaral couldn't finish the play. Marvin Dubose sent away a hard shot on goal in the 94th minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. After 96 minutes of play, Pogradeci FCA's Lane Key made it 3-2 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Zé Roberto do Vale was left in no man's land by his defense there! Santos FC's players left the field with heads hung low after losing a match that had been finely balanced throughout.