U23 World League

Ricardo E. Bochini
Spectators: 7572 (Terracing: 5680, Seating: 1741, VIP seats: 151) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Cipriano Hermes took the kick off in the first half of the match. In the 3rd minute the ball was on its way in behind INDEPENDIENTE FUTBOL CLUB's goalkeeper Pepe Santoro, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. The supporters of Santo Amaro AC booed when INDEPENDIENTE FUTBOL CLUB was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 3 match minutes in a wonderful position. Gilberto Fiz didn't get a good kick on the ball. Pepe Santoro showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Eduard Polozov in the 15th minute of the match. Alejo Eleder hit a great freekick 16 minutes into the match. 22 minutes had been played when some careless play by INDEPENDIENTE FUTBOL CLUB's defense caused the ball to cross the line for a corner. Duarte Maia was slow to take the kick. During this time Santo Amaro AC's players had a chance to rest. Santo Amaro AC's Duarte Maia was first on the ball when the corner was shot and he dangerously headed the ball towards goal, but Pepe Santoro in the goal jumped up to prevent it from getting in. INDEPENDIENTE FUTBOL CLUB's Pepe Santoro played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Cipriano Hermes in the 25th minute of play. When the match had been going on for 27 minutes Wincent Pawlik shot a great shot from long distance. It looked like a certain goal, but the audience witnessed a really smashing save by Pepe Santoro when he caught the ball only just under the crossbar. In the 29th minute Higinio Barros shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Hudson Arósio saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. An unexpectedly hard shot by Cipriano Hermes in the 33rd minute of play forced INDEPENDIENTE FUTBOL CLUB's goalkeeper Pepe Santoro to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Pancho Sá kicked well hit freekick during the 35th minute of the match. In the 36th minute, Cipriano Hermes left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The Santo Amaro AC fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 0-1. After having played for 43 minutes, Cipriano Hermes managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Santo Amaro AC's supporters crossed their fingers, but Cipriano Hermes was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Gilberto Fiz hit a great freekick 44 minutes into the match. INDEPENDIENTE FUTBOL CLUB's Pepe Santoro played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Cipriano Hermes in the 45th minute of play. Eduard Polozov sent away a hard shot on goal in the 46th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Luck had favoured the away team in the first, and they walked off with a 0-1 lead.

INDEPENDIENTE FUTBOL CLUB's Venancio Odol was substituted for Arsenio Erico. The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Higinio Barros was the one to do the kick off. An unexpectedly hard shot by Narciso Vergaray in the 61st minute of play forced Santo Amaro AC's goalkeeper Hudson Arósio to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. With a little luck, INDEPENDIENTE FUTBOL CLUB's Pepe Santoro got control of the ball when Wincent Pawlik tried to sneak it across the goal line. Wincent Pawlik received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 70th minute. Pepe Santoro tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Pepe Santoro showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Cipriano Hermes, who was totally free with the ball in the 72nd minute. INDEPENDIENTE FUTBOL CLUB's Pepe Santoro played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Cipriano Hermes in the 77th minute of play. An unexpectedly hard shot by Higinio Barros in the 79th minute of play forced Santo Amaro AC's goalkeeper Hudson Arósio to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Eduard Polozov received a nice pass, split the defenders, and ran untouched towards the goal. Pepe Santoro came out and tried to block the shot, but Eduard Polozov slotted it home off the left post making it 0-2 in the 85th minute. In the 92nd minute Venancio Odol shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Hudson Arósio saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. If Cipriano Hermes had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 94th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Wincent Pawlik sent away a hard shot on goal in the 96th minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. The Santo Amaro AC supporters could be heard counting down the last seconds of the match. They errupted in celebration when the whistle blew, knowing Santo Amaro AC would go home with victory in their luggage after a match that easily could have ended differently.