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 a defensive mix-up in Botafogo's zone, Hílton Bueno stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Rafael Luz came out of the goal and Hílton Bueno tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Miguel Vidal received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 4th minute. Rafael Luz tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Gerson Reis fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 8th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Zézinho Mesquita having to interfere. The supporters of Botafogo booed when Tibbers was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 9 match minutes in a wonderful position. Glauco Luz didn't get a good kick on the ball. Vladimir Ramalho's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Zézinho Mesquita read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 10th minute of play. After having played for 12 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. Tibbers's Zézinho Mesquita proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 14th minute of the match, managed to save Tibbers from getting a goal against them. Miguel Vidal received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 21st minute. Rafael Luz tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. If Miguel Vidal had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 27th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 33rd minute Miguel Vidal 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. A collision led to Botafogo getting a freekick after 38 minutes play. Bruninho de Mendonça hit a great ball. After a defensive mix-up in Botafogo's zone, Hílton Bueno stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Rafael Luz came out of the goal and Hílton Bueno tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. In the 44th minute, Gerson Reis 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. Pedro Luiz Diniz kicked well hit freekick during the 47th minute of the match. Af the end of the first half the score was 1-0. The first half had gone as expected for the home team.

Rafael Luz made an important save on a dangerous shot by Hílton Bueno in the 54th minute. After having played for 57 minutes, Hílton Bueno managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Tibbers's supporters crossed their fingers, but Hílton Bueno was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Zézinho Mesquita took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Gerson Reis, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. An unexpectedly hard shot by Gerson Reis in the 61st minute of play forced Tibbers's goalkeeper Zézinho Mesquita to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 62nd match minute, Tibbers was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Sydney Vieira to maneuver through the defense. Zézinho Mesquita showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Gerson Reis, who was totally free with the ball in the 64th minute. Wilton Lima hit a great freekick 66 minutes into the match. Gerson Reis's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Zézinho Mesquita read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 70th minute of play. In the 73rdth minute of the game Vladimir Ramalho who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Tibbers's Zézinho Mesquita was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. Gerson Reis struck a weak shot in the 76th minute. Zézinho Mesquita didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Botafogo. A collision led to Tibbers getting a freekick after 77 minutes play. Germano Mendes hit a great ball. Vladimir Ramalho fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 79th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Zézinho Mesquita having to interfere. Vladimir Ramalho fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 81st minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Zézinho Mesquita having to interfere. Gerson Reis's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Zézinho Mesquita read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 82nd minute of play. Gerson Reis fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 85th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Zézinho Mesquita having to interfere. In the 86th minute the ball was on its way in behind Tibbers's goalkeeper Zézinho Mesquita, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. Gerson Reis fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 88th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Zézinho Mesquita having to interfere. Vladimir Ramalho sent away a hard shot on goal in the 93rd minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. Zézinho Mesquita took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Vladimir Ramalho, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. After a defensive mix-up in Botafogo's zone, Miguel Vidal stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Rafael Luz came out of the goal and Miguel Vidal tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play.