League

Meiry Domingues
Spectators: 7143 (Terracing: 5425, Seating: 1663, VIP seats: 55) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Manfredo Marquez took the kick off in the first half of the match. Marcel Cosme showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Manfredo Marquez in the 6th minute of the match. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Manfredo Marquez in the 7th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Marcel Cosme saved Gela Guela Futebol Clube from getting behind. When Samuel Melo fell near the penalty area in the 7th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Gela Guela Futebol Clube's protests and gave Samuel Melo a yellow card for diving instead. The supporters of Araucaria booed when Gela Guela Futebol Clube was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 8 match minutes in a wonderful position. Samuel Melo didn't get a good kick on the ball. Gela Guela Futebol Clube's Marcel Cosme played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Manfredo Marquez in the 9th minute of play. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Waldir Cunha in the 10th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Marcel Cosme prevented the ball from getting in the gole. 11 minutes into the match, Araucaria's goalkeeper Válter Medeiros had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Toninho Pitta. In the 13th minute, Manfredo Marquez hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Mané Messias sent away a hard shot on goal in the 14th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Marcel Cosme showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Waldir Cunha, who was totally free with the ball in the 18th minute. Válter Medeiros took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Mané Messias, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. If Waldir Cunha had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 35th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. When Samuel Melo was, once again, overly rough in his play he received his second yellow card and was ordered off the ground. 42 minutes had been played. After the first half Araucaria were leading 0-2. They had played with great self confidence throughout the first half and fully deserved their lead.

The wind increased when Toninho Pitta made the kick off in the second half. Manfredo Marquez might have been able to make a better finish in the 52nd minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Marcel Cosme. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Manfredo Marquez ran back to his position shaking his head. Francisco da Mata charged in rather forcefully in the 55th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Francisco da Mata the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. After 55 played minutes Gela Guela Futebol Clube got a freekick which was hit by Francisco da Mata. The audience was convinced that Manfredo Marquez's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Marcel Cosme was relentless in the 56th minute of the game. In the 58th minute, Manfredo Marquez reached a very good position and smashed the ball with a huge effort into the net, just to the left of Marcel Cosme. The goal made the score 0-3. If Waldir Cunha had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 62nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After 67 played minutes Gela Guela Futebol Clube got a freekick which was hit by Frank Faria. Leonel Xavier, 68 minutes into the match, dribbled the ball up the side of the field and decided to take a long shot at the goal. Unfortunately, the ball was poorly hit and landed closer to the corner than to the goal. Marcel Cosme came out of the goal in the 73rd minute to try and stop a shot by Araucaria's Manfredo Marquez. But to his dismay, Manfredo Marquez quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 0-4. Leonel Xavier's late challenge caught a Gela Guela Futebol Clube's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Leonel Xavier helped the player get up and apologised. The referee blew the whistle for a penalty in the 75th minute of the game. One of Araucaria:s players had nearly got his shirt torn off by an opponent while getting free in front of Gela Guela Futebol Clube:s goal. Manfredo Marquez blasted a shot towards the goal in the 85th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Marcel Cosme having to make a save. 90 minutes into the game, Maicon Meira was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Gela Guela Futebol Clube's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Araucaria the free kick. The supporters of Araucaria booed when Gela Guela Futebol Clube was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 91 match minutes in a wonderful position. Maicon Meira didn't get a good kick on the ball. Waldir Cunha's shot when he came free in front of the goal in the 92ndth minute, Marcel Cosme skillfully showed off with a save to what seemed to be an obvious goal. André Melo might have been able to make a better finish in the 97th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Marcel Cosme. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. André Melo ran back to his position shaking his head. The supporters of Araucaria booed when Gela Guela Futebol Clube was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 98 match minutes in a wonderful position. Frank Faria didn't get a good kick on the ball. Araucaria's attacker deliberately struck the ball against an opponent to win a corner for his team. The corner was taken by Leonel Xavier in the 101st minute. Araucaria played a much better game than Gela Guela Futebol Clube and deserved their victory. The Gela Guela Futebol Clube players were clearly disappointed as they left the ground.