Prized/Friendly Cup

Paulo I. Heineck
Spectators: 38 (Terracing: 29, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when Diogo Machado kicked off to start the match. Laçın Cumayev made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Diogo Machado in the 2nd minute of play. Andres van der Sar showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Zigmantas Gimbutas in the 5th minute of the match. After 11 played minutes MONTANHA got a freekick which was hit by Afonso Cardozo. Zigmantas Gimbutas sent away a hard shot on goal in the 15th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. In the 16th minute, Zigmantas Gimbutas got an opportunity to score, but he didn't get a solid hit on the ball and ended up kicking it wide of the goal. After 18 minutes of play, SC Braga's Zigmantas Gimbutas made it 0-1 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Andres van der Sar was left in no man's land by his defense there! Murillo Martins made in the 22nd minute of the game a sloppy throw-in which Leopoldo Moreno however managed to control. Andres van der Sar stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Zigmantas Gimbutas's shot from short distance in the 23rd minute. SC Braga's Zigmantas Gimbutas got a good chance for a goal in the 25th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. After a defensive mix-up in MONTANHA's zone, Zigmantas Gimbutas stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Andres van der Sar came out of the goal and Zigmantas Gimbutas tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. 33 minutes into the match, SC Braga's Zigmantas Gimbutas sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Andres van der Sar narrowly saved just below the crossbar. SC Braga were awarded a corner in the 36th minute after MONTANHA's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Benjamin de Lara took the corner. After some careless play in the MONTANHA defense, Zigmantas Gimbutas kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Andres van der Sar. The MONTANHA fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Andres van der Sar should have stopped the shot. After a defensive mix-up in SC Braga's zone, Diogo Machado stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Laçın Cumayev came out of the goal and Diogo Machado tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. 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.

When MONTANHA's Afonso Cardozo in the 54th minute got a chance for a shot 54th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye SC Braga's goalie prevented a goal. In the 55th minute the ball was on its way in behind MONTANHA's goalkeeper Andres van der Sar, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. After a defensive mix-up in MONTANHA's zone, Benjamin de Lara stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Andres van der Sar came out of the goal and Benjamin de Lara tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. An unexpectedly hard shot by Zigmantas Gimbutas in the 62nd minute of play forced MONTANHA's goalkeeper Andres van der Sar to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. SC Braga made a substitution. Geraldo Lucas replaced André Jordão. SC Braga were awarded a corner in the 65th minute after MONTANHA's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Benjamin de Lara took the corner. 72 minutes into the match, MONTANHA's goal looked a bit too open when Zigmantas Gimbutas came free, but Andres van der Sar reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. 72 minutes into the game, SC Braga's Zigmantas Gimbutas nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Andres van der Sar made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 0-3. SC Braga made a substitution. Antonio Cieri replaced Benjamin de Lara. If Stig-Åke Mattsson had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 77th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. Andres van der Sar showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Stig-Åke Mattsson in the 78th minute of the match. 79 minutes into the game, Benedito Trancoso was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. MONTANHA's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave SC Braga the free kick. In the 79th match minute, MONTANHA was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Benedito Trancoso to maneuver through the defense. Stig-Åke Mattsson blasted a shot towards the goal in the 80th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Andres van der Sar having to make a save. An unexpectedly hard shot by Stig-Åke Mattsson in the 81st minute of play forced MONTANHA's goalkeeper Andres van der Sar to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 86th minute, Leopoldo Moreno hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Andres van der Sar showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Stig-Åke Mattsson, who was totally free with the ball in the 89th minute. When Antonio Cieri came up free with the goalie in the 90th minute, the SC Braga fans jumped to their feet. But the shot missed the goal by a fraction of an inch, and the fans sat back down disappointed that Antonio Cieri couldn't finish the play. Andres van der Sar showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Stig-Åke Mattsson, who was totally free with the ball in the 93rd minute. The SC Braga players were relieved to hear the final whistle blow to end the match. The away crowd was happy to see their team win after a very tight game.