League

HARDCORE STADIUM
Spectators: 7191 (Terracing: 5395, Seating: 1653, VIP seats: 143) Cacutu's Albertinho Paes 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. HARDCORE F.C.'s Silas Braga played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Gildo Leme in the 3rd minute of play. Silas Braga took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Gildo Leme, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Ricardinho Senna struck a weak shot in the 10th minute. Diogo de Sousa didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for HARDCORE F.C.. The supporters of HARDCORE F.C. booed when Cacutu was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 14 match minutes in a wonderful position. Vitório Viana didn't get a good kick on the ball. After 15 played minutes, HARDCORE F.C.'s Acácio Machado shot from a long distance, and at first it looked like the ball was going into the goal, but the goalkeeper Diogo de Sousa came through and got his fingers on the ball before it flew over the goal line. He then quickly gripped the ball tighter before the forwards in HARDCORE F.C. reached it. Silas Braga stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Albertinho Paes's shot from short distance in the 17th minute. In the 18th minute, Jean Proença hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Valdo Alves scored 1-0 in the 22nd match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Diogo de Sousa, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. The audience was convinced that Albertinho Paes's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Silas Braga was relentless in the 30th minute of the game. After a defensive mix-up in HARDCORE F.C.'s zone, Albertinho Paes stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Silas Braga came out of the goal and Albertinho Paes tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Silas Braga took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Albertinho Paes, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Diogo de Sousa showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Ricardinho Senna in the 47th minute of the match. No-one was surprised that the home team were leading 1-0 at half-time.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Ricardinho Senna made a kick off. In the 54th minute of the match, Gildo Leme got a very nice opportunity to score, but Silas Braga was well-placed and pushed the ball away from the goal at the left post. Delfim Rosa took a chance and fired a shot far from the goal in the 58th minute, but it turned out to be a dangerous situation for Silas Braga. HARDCORE F.C.'s goalkeeper really had to stretch himself to stop the ball from crossing the goal line. In the 60th match minute, HARDCORE F.C. was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Washington Varela to maneuver through the defense. Jean Proença kicked well hit freekick during the 61st minute of the match. Albertinho Paes fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 64th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Silas Braga having to interfere. Albertinho Paes was really disappointed when he shot the ball just outside the right post instead of scoring a goal in the 67th minute. Cacutu's manager could be seen on the sidelines shaking his head and muttering to himself as his team had just wasted another chance. Silas Braga made an important save on a dangerous shot by Gildo Leme in the 67th minute. Valdo Alves received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 70th minute. Diogo de Sousa tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Diogo de Sousa took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Valdo Alves, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. If Valdo Alves had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 74th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Delfim Rosa charged in rather forcefully in the 76th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Delfim Rosa the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. After 76 minutes of play, the referee blew the whistle. It was a penalty for Cacutu! Jean Proença got his second yellow card in the match during the 86th minute which meant that he had to leave the ground. Jean Proença hit a great freekick 86 minutes into the match. After 95 played minutes Cacutu got a freekick which was hit by Cássio Madureira. Cacutu's players left the field with heads hung low after losing a match that had been finely balanced throughout.