Friendly League

Ricardo E. Bochini
Spectators: 36 (Terracing: 28, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Higinio Barros got the match started through his kick off. An unexpectedly hard shot by Arthur Branco in the 8th minute of play forced INDEPENDIENTE FUTBOL CLUB's goalkeeper Pepe Santoro to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. The supporters of INDEPENDIENTE FUTBOL CLUB booed when AD Pontassolense was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 9 match minutes in a wonderful position. Nélson Bezerra didn't get a good kick on the ball. Pepe Santoro made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Renato Alves in the 18th minute of play. 20 minutes into the match, INDEPENDIENTE FUTBOL CLUB's goal looked a bit too open when Arthur Branco came free, but Pepe Santoro reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 22nd minute AD Pontassolense were awarded a corner. Álvaro Carvalho went to the cornerflag to take it. Pepe Santoro stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Renato Alves's shot from short distance in the 25th minute. The audience was convinced that Arthur Branco's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Pepe Santoro was relentless in the 26th minute of the game. Pepe Santoro made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Arthur Branco in the 28th minute of play. An unexpectedly hard shot by Arthur Branco in the 31st minute of play forced INDEPENDIENTE FUTBOL CLUB's goalkeeper Pepe Santoro to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Pepe Santoro didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Arthur Branco went, in the 31st minute, to the upper right corner, 0-1 was the resulting score. In the 34th minute Arthur Branco shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Pepe Santoro saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. After a rather tough play, AD Pontassolense's Gustavo Aguiar got a free kick in the 38th minute. In the 41st match minute, AD Pontassolense was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Renato Alves to maneuver through the defense. If Arthur Branco had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 45th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. An unexpectedly hard shot by Arthur Branco in the 48th minute of play forced INDEPENDIENTE FUTBOL CLUB's goalkeeper Pepe Santoro to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. 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.

INDEPENDIENTE FUTBOL CLUB made a substitution. Candido Mincho replaced Fabio Victoro. When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Renato Alves made a kick off. 53 minutes into the match, INDEPENDIENTE FUTBOL CLUB's goalkeeper Pepe Santoro had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Renato Alves. After a rather tough play, INDEPENDIENTE FUTBOL CLUB's Luisito Jaen got a free kick in the 55th minute. With a little luck, INDEPENDIENTE FUTBOL CLUB's Pepe Santoro got control of the ball when Renato Alves tried to sneak it across the goal line. Pepe Santoro made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Arthur Branco in the 63rd minute of play. With a little luck, INDEPENDIENTE FUTBOL CLUB's Pepe Santoro got control of the ball when Renato Alves tried to sneak it across the goal line. Arthur Branco could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 65th minute of the match, but Pepe Santoro made a huge save. Pepe Santoro made an important save on a dangerous shot by Renato Alves in the 70th minute. After some fancy dribbling in the 77th minute, Renato Alves managed to get in a good position for a shot. AD Pontassolense's supporters rose to their feet, but Renato Alves was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Pepe Santoro breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. In the 83rd minute of the match, Fernando Portela tried to roll the ball into the goal by the right post, but Pepe Santoro saw his intentions and got control of the ball before it passed the line. A hard shot 86 in the game by Renato Alves from a close distance when the talented Pepe Santoro managed to make a qualified save. INDEPENDIENTE FUTBOL CLUB's players were relieved. 88 minutes into the match, Renato Alves had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Pepe Santoro. INDEPENDIENTE FUTBOL CLUB's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Renato Alves was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 0-4. In the 92nd minute, AD Pontassolense's Arthur Branco ran free of his marker and smoothly shot the ball into the goal behind Pepe Santoro. Pepe Santoro yelled at his defense, as they had left him out to dry. 0-5. When the match was over AD Pontassolense could go home with a victory in their luggage, having controlled the game far better than INDEPENDIENTE FUTBOL CLUB throughout the match.