ENGENHAO
Spectators: 35 (Terracing: 27,
Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. George Messi started the match with the kick off. Alfonso Taraborrelli showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Gunnar Ekeroth, who was totally free with the ball in the 3rd minute. In the 4th minute of the match Three Lions FC got a corner. BOTAFOGO's goalie ran out to the linesman to protest the call, but the linesman resolutely pointed his flag at the cornerflag. George Lukaku ran over to the corner to take the kick. The corner led to Three Lions FC's George Stones getting away a dangerous shot that went just outside the goal. Alfonso Taraborrelli didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Gunnar Ekeroth went, in the 10th minute, to the upper right corner, 0-2 was the resulting score. Gunnar Ekeroth recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 17th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. If George Messi had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 20th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. Three Lions FC's George Messi got a good chance for a goal in the 21st minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. George Messi fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 23rd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Alfonso Taraborrelli having to interfere. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling George Messi in the 27th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Alfonso Taraborrelli prevented the ball from getting in the gole. A collision led to BOTAFOGO getting a freekick after 29 minutes play. Kauan Melo hit a great ball. Three Lions FC's George Buffon proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 30th minute of the match, managed to save Three Lions FC from getting a goal against them. In the 35th minute Jaanek Oese shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but George Buffon saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Toninho Madureira fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 36th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without George Buffon having to interfere. George Buffon made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Jaanek Oese in the 38th minute of play. George Maguire kicked well hit freekick during the 40th minute of the match. In the 41st minute, Benito McRae hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. BOTAFOGO's Kauan Melo took a good shot, in the 42nd minute, which hit the crossbar above George Buffon's head, and flew over the goal. Three Lions FC's manager was very thankful on the sidelines as his team had managed to keep the ball out of the net after some serious pressure by BOTAFOGO. BOTAFOGO's Alfonso Taraborrelli played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by George Messi in the 45th minute of play. Through an outstanding action, after 46 minutes, George Buffon successfully got his hands on the ball before it slid into the goal at the right post. Even after changing tactics the home team jogged off the field with a 0-2 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. Toninho Madureira was the one to do the kick off. Gunnar Ekeroth could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 56th minute of the match, but Alfonso Taraborrelli made a huge save. The supporters of Three Lions FC booed when BOTAFOGO was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 59 match minutes in a wonderful position. Gernando de Toledo didn't get a good kick on the ball. In the 60th minute George Messi shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Alfonso Taraborrelli saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. After some fancy dribbling in the 63rd minute, George Messi managed to get in a good position for a shot. Three Lions FC's supporters rose to their feet, but George Messi was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Alfonso Taraborrelli breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. George Messi might have been able to make a better finish in the 64th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Alfonso Taraborrelli. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. George Messi ran back to his position shaking his head. The audience was convinced that George Messi's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Alfonso Taraborrelli was relentless in the 66th minute of the game. Three Lions FC were awarded a corner in the 67th minute after BOTAFOGO's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. George Lukaku took the corner. George Lukaku made a great header on Three Lions FC's corner, it was just that BOTAFOGO's Alfonso Taraborrelli managed to reach the ball for a save. 72 minutes into the match, Three Lions FC's goal looked a bit too open when Toninho Madureira came free, but George Buffon reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Three Lions FC's George Buffon played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Toninho Madureira in the 72nd minute of play. 72 minutes into the match, Three Lions FC's goal looked a bit too open when Toninho Madureira came free, but George Buffon reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After 74 played minutes BOTAFOGO got a freekick which was hit by Gernando de Toledo. A long shot from George Lukaku in the 75th minute of play was well struck, but Alfonso Taraborrelli made a really good save at the right post. George Messi fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 76th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Alfonso Taraborrelli having to interfere. In the 80th minute, George Messi made a precise shot to the right of Alfonso Taraborrelli. BOTAFOGO's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 0-3. Alfonso Taraborrelli showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Gunnar Ekeroth, who was totally free with the ball in the 82nd minute. 84 minutes had been played when some careless play by BOTAFOGO's defense caused the ball to cross the line for a corner. George Lukaku was slow to take the kick. During this time Three Lions FC's players had a chance to rest. A nice corner shot did that George Lukaku got away a dangerous shot. Despite this Alfonso Taraborrelli quite easily got ahold of the ball to make the save. 87 minutes into the match, BOTAFOGO's goalkeeper Alfonso Taraborrelli had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Gunnar Ekeroth. With a couple of smart ball manuevers George Messi in the 90th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Alfonso Taraborrelli saved BOTAFOGO from getting behind. George Messi's shot when he came free in front of the goal in the 91stth minute, Alfonso Taraborrelli skillfully showed off with a save to what seemed to be an obvious goal. The Three Lions FC supporters could be heard counting down the last seconds of the match. They errupted in celebration when the whistle blew, knowing Three Lions FC would go home with victory in their luggage after a match that easily could have ended differently.
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