League

arena Palmeiras
Spectators: 3249 (Terracing: 3000, Seating: 199, VIP seats: 50) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Dagoberto Velasco took the kick off in the first half of the match. After 7 played minutes Itália got a freekick which was hit by Celso Osoro. After 10 minutes, Gilberto Pereira made it 0-1 with a short kick to the right side. Itália's Rodriguinho Motta tried to save the shot but he was too slow in reacting to the shot. Rodriguinho Motta showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Natanael Mesquita, who was totally free with the ball in the 13th minute. If Natanael Mesquita had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 15th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Tiaguinho Cavalcante kicked well hit freekick during the 17th minute of the match. Celsinho Dionísio sent away a hard shot on goal in the 23rd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Rodriguinho Motta came out of the goal in the 25th minute to try and stop a shot by Fireball Esporte Clube's Gilberto Pereira. But to his dismay, Gilberto Pereira quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 0-2. Gilberto Pereira recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 29th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Fireball Esporte Clube's Tiaguinho Cavalcante got a good chance for a goal in the 30th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. After 34 played minutes Itália got a freekick which was hit by Celso Osoro. In the 36th match minute, Fireball Esporte Clube was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Natanael Mesquita to maneuver through the defense. Itália's Rodriguinho Motta played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Gilberto Pereira in the 39th minute of play. Tiaguinho Torres hit a great freekick 40 minutes into the match. Gilberto Pereira recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 41st minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Tiaguinho Cavalcante fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 42nd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Rodriguinho Motta having to interfere. In the 45th minute, Natanael Mesquita hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. The crowd was extremely unhappy with the home team's performance in the first half. They were losing 0-2.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Gilberto Pereira to make the kick off. The crowd rose to their feet as Gilberto Pereira kicked a wonderful shot that went in to the left of a diving Rodriguinho Motta. That made the score 0-3 in the 51 minute of play. After a rather tough play, Fireball Esporte Clube's Natanael Mesquita got a free kick in the 54th minute. A collision led to Itália getting a freekick after 57 minutes play. Celso Osoro hit a great ball. After some fancy dribbling in the 58th minute, Umberto Godoi managed to get in a good position for a shot. Fireball Esporte Clube's supporters rose to their feet, but Umberto Godoi was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Rodriguinho Motta breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Natanael Mesquita's late challenge caught a Itália's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Natanael Mesquita helped the player get up and apologised. Natanael Mesquita hit a great freekick 62 minutes into the match. Gilberto Pereira charged in rather forcefully in the 70th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Gilberto Pereira the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. In the 70th minute, Gilberto Pereira hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. After 71 minutes of play, Itália's Lothar Matthäus made it 1-3 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Zé Roberto Fernandez was left in no man's land by his defense there! Rodriguinho Motta was out of position in the 81 minute of play, and Celsinho Dionísio capitalized on the mistake with a soft shot into the goal. Celsinho Dionísio really showed his touch with that goal: 1-4. Tiaguinho Cavalcante hit a great freekick 92 minutes into the match. The Fireball Esporte Clube 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.