League

Republica
Spectators: 7188 (Terracing: 5393, Seating: 1653, VIP seats: 142) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Benedito Neiva got the match started through his kick off. In the 4th minute, Dino Cavalcante got an opportunity to score, but he didn't get a solid hit on the ball and ended up kicking it wide of the goal. A collision led to Republica getting a freekick after 6 minutes play. João Adolfo Perez hit a great ball. Arariuna's Miguel Silveira couldn't find anyone to pass the ball to, so he shot a long shot towards the goal in the 6th minute. The shot went wide which resulted in a goal kick for Republica. When Benedito Neiva came up free with the goalie in the 14th minute, the Republica 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 Benedito Neiva couldn't finish the play. Elivélton Vaz took the ball and in the 16 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Zé Carlos Luz. Zé Carlos Luz dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 1-0. After a defensive mix-up in Arariuna's zone, Manoel Tróia stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Zé Carlos Luz came out of the goal and Manoel Tróia tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Luizão Quirino received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 25th minute. Zé Paulo Torres tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Caetano Vergílio hit a great freekick 30 minutes into the match. In the 31st minute, Álvaro Lopes sent off a long shot on goal, but the shot was nowhere near the goal and Arariuna's Zé Carlos Luz didn't even have to move. An unexpectedly hard shot by Luizão Quirino in the 42nd minute of play forced Republica's goalkeeper Zé Paulo Torres to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 44th minute, Luizão Quirino got an opportunity to score, but he didn't get a solid hit on the ball and ended up kicking it wide of the goal. With a little luck, Arariuna's Zé Carlos Luz got control of the ball when Manoel Tróia tried to sneak it across the goal line. No-one was surprised that the home team were leading 1-0 at half-time.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Dino Cavalcante to strike the kick off in the second half. Benedito Neiva recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 52nd minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. When Rogério Vale fell near the penalty area in the 56th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Arariuna's protests and gave Rogério Vale a yellow card for diving instead. Manoel Tróia recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 59th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. A collision led to Arariuna getting a freekick after 68 minutes play. Caetano Vergílio hit a great ball. Álvaro Lopes succeeded in the game's 68th minute to get real power on a long shot . Arariuna's Zé Carlos Luz hadn't the time to block the shot which was pasted into the goal, 2-0! Zé Carlos Luz showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Manoel Tróia in the 73rd minute of the match. The supporters of Arariuna booed when Republica was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 76 match minutes in a wonderful position. João Adolfo Perez didn't get a good kick on the ball. Arariuna's Zé Carlos Luz played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Manoel Tróia in the 81st minute of play. The audience thought a goal was coming when Luizão Quirino got free with Zé Paulo Torres in the 91st minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. 93 minutes into the match, Republica's Manoel Tróia sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Zé Carlos Luz narrowly saved just below the crossbar. There was no doubt that Republica were the better team. Republica's players enjoyed the ovations of the crowd after the victory.