Official Cup

Dionisio Fernanco
Spectators: 502 (Terracing: 378, Seating: 115, VIP seats: 9) 10 minutes into the game, Hugo Bernardes cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 0-1. Abelardo Cristofor was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. Fabricio Martxot's shot straight on target was not completely harmless. The ball had pretty good speed, but Zarco Bandeira firmly grabbed it by the left post. Silvério Simões fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 24th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Abelardo Cristofor having to interfere. Zarco Bandeira made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Jimeno Lizbeth in the 29th minute of play. The supporters of Sportivo Ben Hur booed when MZ Fénix was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 32 match minutes in a wonderful position. Patrício Amaral didn't get a good kick on the ball. In the 33rd minute of the match Alejandro Igon sent off a long shot with destination to the right of the goalkeeper, but Zarco Bandeira skillfully saved the ball. 36 minutes into the match, MZ Fénix's goal looked a bit too open when Marciano Maxin came free, but Zarco Bandeira reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 39th minute of the match Ovidio Piarres sent off a long shot with destination to the right of the goalkeeper, but Zarco Bandeira skillfully saved the ball. Alejandro Igon hit a great freekick 45 minutes into the match. After the first half MZ Fénix were leading 0-1. They had played with great self confidence throughout the first half and fully deserved their lead.

The wind increased when Marciano Maxin made the kick off in the second half. In the 52nd minute Marciano Maxin shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Zarco Bandeira saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. 53 minutes into the match, Sportivo Ben Hur's goal looked a bit too open when Hugo Bernardes came free, but Abelardo Cristofor reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Zarco Bandeira took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Desiderio Tancredo, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Abelardo Cristofor made an important save on a dangerous shot by Joel Caeiro in the 60th minute. In the 62nd match minute, Sportivo Ben Hur was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Raimundo Primo to maneuver through the defense. In the 66th minute, Sportivo Ben Hur's goalie took a deep sigh of relief after Celso Baía fired away a hard shot that went just outside the left post. Bruno Maraman scored 1-1 in the 70th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Zarco Bandeira, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. MZ Fénix's Zarco Bandeira played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Desiderio Tancredo in the 73rd minute of play. The audience thought a goal was coming when Hugo Bernardes got free with Abelardo Cristofor in the 76th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Abelardo Cristofor showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Celso Baía, who was totally free with the ball in the 80th minute. In the 88th minute, Jimeno Lizbeth hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. In the 89th minute the ball was on its way in behind Sportivo Ben Hur's goalkeeper Abelardo Cristofor, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. After some fancy dribbling in the 90th minute, Joel Caeiro managed to get in a good position for a shot. MZ Fénix's supporters rose to their feet, but Joel Caeiro was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Abelardo Cristofor breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick.

With new strength the players walked out on the field for the first half of overtime. Hugo Bernardes in MZ Fénix was the one to initiate the kick off. Hugo Bernardes's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Abelardo Cristofor read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 100th minute of play. 107 minutes into the match, MZ Fénix's goal looked a bit too open when Marciano Maxin came free, but Zarco Bandeira reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. An unexpected shot in the 109th minute by Bruno Maraman got the crowd on their feet, but to their dismay it went out on the left side. If Celso Baía had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 111th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After 112 minutes, Eliseo Ralondo mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Sportivo Ben Hur and the MZ Fénix players grew even worse after the yellow card.

The players still looked rather fresh even though it was time for second half of the overtime. Marciano Maxin did a quick kick off. When the match was over MZ Fénix could go home with a victory in their luggage, having controlled the game far better than Sportivo Ben Hur throughout the match.