Friendly League

Nilton Santos
Spectators: 36 (Terracing: 28, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Olívio França took the kick off in the first half of the match. When the match clock showed 3 minutes, the score became 1-0 when Gilmar Couto sped through Atlético Mineiro's defense and sent away a curving shot that went into the net to the right of Fynn John. In the 7th minute Gilmar Couto shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Fynn John saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Fynn John showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Jailson Capixaba in the 11th minute of the match. Atlético Mineiro's Fynn John played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Gilmar Couto in the 14th minute of play. Botafogo MZRJ's attacker deliberately struck the ball against an opponent to win a corner for his team. The corner was taken by Álvaro Melo in the 15th minute. Silas Lara fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 17th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Fynn John having to interfere. César de Queiroz struck a weak shot in the 22nd minute. José Vítor Netto didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Atlético Mineiro. Gilmar Couto was extremely unlucky when he, in the 25th minute, took a shot that hit the right post and went out. Atlético Mineiro's Fynn John proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 27th minute of the match, managed to save Atlético Mineiro from getting a goal against them. Jailson Capixaba recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 29th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Fynn John made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Gilmar Couto in the 31st minute of play. A sloppy throw-in by Flávio Paraense in the 32nd minute of the game went astray and was snapped up by Botafogo MZRJ's Juvenal Camargo. Fynn John showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Gilmar Couto, who was totally free with the ball in the 35th minute. The supporters of Atlético Mineiro booed when Botafogo MZRJ was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 37 match minutes in a wonderful position. Álvaro Melo didn't get a good kick on the ball. Fynn John took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Gilmar Couto, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. If César de Queiroz had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 44th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 46th minute Gilmar Couto shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Fynn John saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Af the end of the first half the score was 1-0. The first half had gone as expected for the home team.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Gilmar Couto was the one to do the kick off. In the 55th minute, Tomé Brasil hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Fynn John made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Gilmar Couto in the 56th minute of play. André Luís Best blasted a shot towards the goal in the 58th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without José Vítor Netto having to make a save. After having played for 60 minutes, Gilmar Couto managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Botafogo MZRJ's supporters crossed their fingers, but Gilmar Couto was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. In the 61st match minute, Botafogo MZRJ was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Silas Lara to maneuver through the defense. Olívio França sent away a hard shot on goal in the 63rd minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. Fynn John made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Gilmar Couto in the 66th minute of play. In the 69th minute the ball was on its way in behind Botafogo MZRJ's goalkeeper José Vítor Netto, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. In the 71st minute, Léo Baptista hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Botafogo MZRJ made a substitution. Isaltino Gomes replaced Gilvan Falcão. Léo Baptista hit a great freekick 72 minutes into the match. An unexpectedly hard shot by César de Queiroz in the 75th minute of play forced Botafogo MZRJ's goalkeeper José Vítor Netto to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 78th minute of the match, André Luís Best tried to roll the ball into the goal by the right post, but José Vítor Netto saw his intentions and got control of the ball before it passed the line. Atlético Mineiro's Walmyr Guimarães was substituted for César de Queiroz. 80 minutes had been played when some careless play by Botafogo MZRJ's defense caused the ball to cross the line for a corner. Tomé Brasil was slow to take the kick. During this time Atlético Mineiro's players had a chance to rest. After 89 played minutes Botafogo MZRJ got a freekick which was hit by Álvaro Melo. When Álvaro Melo fell near the penalty area in the 95th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Botafogo MZRJ's protests and gave Álvaro Melo a yellow card for diving instead. The supporters of Atlético Mineiro booed when Botafogo MZRJ was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 95 match minutes in a wonderful position. Álvaro Melo didn't get a good kick on the ball. Botafogo MZRJ's fans were exulted and cheered after their team won in a match that could easily have gone the other way.