League

Nilton Santos
Spectators: 5015 (Terracing: 4000, Seating: 1000, VIP seats: 15) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Vladimir Ramalho got the match started through his kick off. After having played for 3 minutes, Gerson Reis managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Botafogo's supporters crossed their fingers, but Gerson Reis was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. The supporters of Botafogo booed when Celting F C was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 9 match minutes in a wonderful position. Sílvio Prata didn't get a good kick on the ball. Lucas Senna's late challenge caught a Botafogo's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Lucas Senna helped the player get up and apologised. A collision led to Celting F C getting a freekick after 14 minutes play. Lucas Senna hit a great ball. Gerson Reis's shot when he came free in front of the goal in the 15thth minute, Caetano Cosme skillfully showed off with a save to what seemed to be an obvious goal. If Amauri de Castro had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 17th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 20th minute, Gerson Reis made a precise shot to the right of Caetano Cosme. Celting F C's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 1-0. After a defensive mix-up in Botafogo's zone, Kléber Cardozo stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Rafael Luz came out of the goal and Kléber Cardozo tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Gerson Reis sent away a hard shot on goal in the 29th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. When Celting F C's Kléber Cardozo in the 34th minute got a chance for a shot 34th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Botafogo's goalie prevented a goal. After 36 minutes of play, Celting F C's Kléber Cardozo made it 1-1 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Rafael Luz was left in no man's land by his defense there! When Bruninho de Mendonça fell near the penalty area in the 38th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Botafogo's protests and gave Bruninho de Mendonça a yellow card for diving instead. In the 38th match minute, Botafogo was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Bruninho de Mendonça to maneuver through the defense. 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 players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Kléber Cardozo was the one to do the kick off. Rafael Luz showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Kléber Cardozo, who was totally free with the ball in the 54th minute. A collision led to Botafogo getting a freekick after 58 minutes play. Ramón Dantas hit a great ball. Amauri de Castro fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 62nd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Rafael Luz having to interfere. 67 minutes into the match Amauri de Castro climbed in front of goal and pressed up 1-2 in the right cross behind a totally surprised Rafael Luz. Amauri de Castro's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Rafael Luz read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 70th minute of play. 71 minutes into the match, Kléber Cardozo had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Rafael Luz. Botafogo's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Kléber Cardozo was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 1-3. When Celting F C's Amauri de Castro in the 82nd minute got a chance for a shot 82nd didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Botafogo's goalie prevented a goal. In the 88th minute Kléber Cardozo shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Rafael Luz saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. An unexpectedly hard shot by Kléber Cardozo in the 94th minute of play forced Botafogo's goalkeeper Rafael Luz to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball.