Friendly League

DAVID de AZEVEDO
Spectators: 39 (Terracing: 30, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Frank Sten started the match with the kick off. The crowd rose to their feet as Frank Sten kicked a wonderful shot that went in to the left of a diving Doni Seco. That made the score 1-0 in the 4 minute of play. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Alberto Valladares during the 8th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. After 8 played minutes Villaverde Celeste Clube got a freekick which was hit by Alberto Valladares. 9 minutes into the game, Mauro Sarmento was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Castanheiro SC's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Villaverde Celeste Clube the free kick. A collision led to Castanheiro SC getting a freekick after 9 minutes play. Mauro Sarmento hit a great ball. In the 12th minute, Luisinho Seco hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. 14 minutes into the game, Castanheiro SC's Mauro Sarmento nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Alfredo Linares made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 1-1. In the 17th minute Marcelo Eger shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Alfredo Linares saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. The supporters of Villaverde Celeste Clube booed when Castanheiro SC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 18 match minutes in a wonderful position. Júnior Alagoano didn't get a good kick on the ball. Giuliano David received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 19th minute. Doni Seco tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. An unexpectedly hard shot by Mané Garrincha in the 22nd minute of play forced Castanheiro SC's goalkeeper Doni Seco to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. After 27 minutes of play, Villaverde Celeste Clube's Frank Sten made it 2-1 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Doni Seco was left in no man's land by his defense there! Castanheiro SC's Doni Seco proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 29th minute of the match, managed to save Castanheiro SC from getting a goal against them. Alfredo Linares came out of the goal in the 31st minute to try and stop a shot by Castanheiro SC's Mauro Sarmento. But to his dismay, Mauro Sarmento quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 2-2. With 36 minutes on the clock, Luisinho Seco commited a dangerous tackle. The referee had no choice but to show him the red card. Alfredo Linares made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Mauro Sarmento in the 41st minute of play. Ulisses Senna's late challenge caught a Villaverde Celeste Clube's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Ulisses Senna helped the player get up and apologised. After 47 played minutes Castanheiro SC got a freekick which was hit by Ulisses Senna. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Frank Sten in the 48th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Doni Seco prevented the ball from getting in the gole. After the first half the score was level. The break gave the players a chance to catch their breath, whilst the managers went over the tactics with them again.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Ronaldo Pinho to make the kick off. Júnior Alagoano might have been able to make a better finish in the 52nd minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Alfredo Linares. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Júnior Alagoano ran back to his position shaking his head. In the 63rd minute, Júnior Alagoano reached a very good position and smashed the ball with a huge effort into the net, just to the left of Alfredo Linares. The goal made the score 2-4. Villaverde Celeste Clube's Alfredo Linares played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Mauro Sarmento in the 70th minute of play. When Marco Bezerra fell near the penalty area in the 75th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Castanheiro SC's protests and gave Marco Bezerra a yellow card for diving instead. A collision led to Castanheiro SC getting a freekick after 75 minutes play. Marco Bezerra hit a great ball. A collision led to Castanheiro SC getting a freekick after 76 minutes play. Serafim Cearense hit a great ball. In the 78th match minute, Castanheiro SC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Serafim Cearense to maneuver through the defense. After a defensive mix-up in Castanheiro SC's zone, Róbson Donato stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Doni Seco came out of the goal and Róbson Donato tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. In the 82nd minute, Castanheiro SC's Júnior Alagoano ran free of his marker and smoothly shot the ball into the goal behind Alfredo Linares. Alfredo Linares yelled at his defense, as they had left him out to dry. 2-5. Doni Seco made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Mané Garrincha in the 90th minute of play. Castanheiro SC's fans were overjoyed with their teams well-earned victory and stayed in the stadium long after the final whistle to celebrate the win.