League

Arena Bonfim
Spectators: 7252 (Terracing: 5440, Seating: 1668, VIP seats: 144) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Luís Fabiano Cerezo got the match started through his kick off. Christiano Lara made an important save on a dangerous shot by Reinaldo Britto in the 7th minute. In the 10th minute of the match André Luiz Goiano shot from a long distance. The ball could have gone into the goal to the right of the goalkeeper, but Christiano Lara showed his good shape when he easily got hold of the ball. Luís Fabiano Cerezo blasted a shot towards the goal in the 15th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Dino Tasso having to make a save. Orgulho do RN's Davi de Alcântara got a good chance for a goal in the 22nd minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. 27 minutes into the match, Luís Fabiano Cerezo had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Dino Tasso. Orgulho do RN's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Luís Fabiano Cerezo was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 0-1. Christiano Lara made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Davi de Alcântara in the 30th minute of play. Orgulho do RN's Reinaldo Britto was standing unmarked in front of the goal when he, in the 32nd play minute, got the ball and easily drilled it into the goal. Dino Tasso made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Luís Fabiano Cerezo in the 36th minute of play. Reinaldo Britto received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 39th minute. Christiano Lara tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Reinaldo Britto might have been able to make a better finish in the 45th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Christiano Lara. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Reinaldo Britto ran back to his position shaking his head. In the 48th minute, Reinaldo Britto left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The Orgulho do RN fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 2-1. All the noise was coming from the home fans when the whistle went for half-time. The home team had fought hardest to put themselves in a deserved lead.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Davi de Alcântara stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. The C.A.Paulistano fans' excitement grew in the 56th match minute when C.A.Paulistano's Luís Fabiano Cerezo looked to have a clear shot with the ball near the goal. The shot wasn't hard, but the ball still rolled over the goal line to make it 2-2 before the goalkeeper had a chance to intervene. Doriva do Vale kicked well hit freekick during the 62nd minute of the match. Richard Tavares was probably a little too eager to shoot when he, in the 63rd played minute, shot the ball from way out. The shot was hard, but the ball flew wide of the goal. An unexpectedly hard shot by Davi de Alcântara in the 66th minute of play forced C.A.Paulistano's goalkeeper Christiano Lara to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. If Victor Silva had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 68th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Luís Fabiano Cerezo sent away a hard shot on goal in the 70th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Dino Tasso made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Luís Fabiano Cerezo in the 74th minute of play. The supporters of Orgulho do RN booed when C.A.Paulistano was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 76 match minutes in a wonderful position. Ernesto Proença didn't get a good kick on the ball. Victor Silva struck a weak shot in the 81st minute. Dino Tasso didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for C.A.Paulistano. Luís Fabiano Cerezo fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 83rd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Dino Tasso having to interfere. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Reinaldo Britto in the 89th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Christiano Lara saved C.A.Paulistano from getting behind. Tomás Tepedino charged in rather forcefully in the 89th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Tomás Tepedino the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. In the 89th match minute, C.A.Paulistano was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Tomás Tepedino to maneuver through the defense. In the 91st minute, Davi de Alcântara made a precise shot to the right of Christiano Lara. C.A.Paulistano's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 3-2. C.A.Paulistano's players left the field with heads hung low after losing a match that had been finely balanced throughout.