League

Estádio Sapucai
Spectators: 7223 (Terracing: 5419, Seating: 1661, VIP seats: 143) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Vitinho Pimenta started the match with the kick off. Nilton Barreto was in exellent shape and made a fantastic save when he, in the 6th minute of the match, managed to get hold of the ball after a long shot from Zé Augusto Dantas. 7 minutes into the match, Rio Branco E.C.'s goal looked a bit too open when Wesley Terra came free, but Nilton Barreto reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. With a little luck, Rio Branco E.C.'s Nilton Barreto got control of the ball when Felippe da Cunha tried to sneak it across the goal line. Ruy Falcão's late challenge caught a Rio Branco E.C.'s player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Ruy Falcão helped the player get up and apologised. Alfredo Alves made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Alfredo Ceresso in the 15th minute of play. Nilton Barreto made an important save on a dangerous shot by Felippe da Cunha in the 18th minute. A collision led to Rio Branco E.C. getting a freekick after 22 minutes play. Ricardinho Senna hit a great ball. When Arraias FC's Felippe da Cunha in 31 game minutes managed to cut through with the ball in front of the goal, only having to shoot. Nilton Barreto guarding the goal like a pit bull was extremely focused and managed to reach the ball just by the crossbar before it went in. In the 31st match minute, Rio Branco E.C. was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Rui Souza to maneuver through the defense. Nilton Barreto took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Wesley Terra, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Vitinho Pimenta took the ball and in the 49 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Alfredo Alves. Alfredo Alves dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 0-1. Even after changing tactics the home team jogged off the field with a 0-1 deficit. They would have to work harder if they wanted to turn things around in the second half.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Wesley Terra was the one to do the kick off. If Vitinho Pimenta had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 56th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Vitinho Pimenta fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 59th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Alfredo Alves having to interfere. The supporters of Arraias FC booed when Rio Branco E.C. was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 63 match minutes in a wonderful position. Manuel Linhares didn't get a good kick on the ball. Nilton Barreto took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Felippe da Cunha, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. A collision led to Arraias FC getting a freekick after 70 minutes play. Zé Augusto Dantas hit a great ball. Alfredo Alves acted impressively in front of the goal and made a superb save when he, in the 71st minute, took the ball on the long shot from Matheus Moreira. 78 minutes into the match, Rio Branco E.C.'s Vitinho Pimenta sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Alfredo Alves narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Wesley Terra received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 85th minute. Nilton Barreto tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Felippe da Cunha sent away a hard shot on goal in the 89th minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. In the 90th match minute, Rio Branco E.C. was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Gonçalo Sena to maneuver through the defense. After having played for 91 minutes, Felippe da Cunha managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Arraias FC's supporters crossed their fingers, but Felippe da Cunha was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Arraias FC's Felippe da Cunha got a good chance for a goal in the 93rd minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. An unexpectedly hard shot by Wesley Terra in the 94th minute of play forced Rio Branco E.C.'s goalkeeper Nilton Barreto to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Wesley Terra received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 97th minute. Nilton Barreto tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. An unexpectedly hard shot by Felippe da Cunha in the 99th minute of play forced Rio Branco E.C.'s goalkeeper Nilton Barreto to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. The referee blew the final whistle, and the away crowd roared, having watched Rio Branco E.C. eke out a victory against a very well matched opponent.