League

Cancha Vermelha
Spectators: 5000 (Terracing: 4000, Seating: 1000, VIP seats: 0) John Holm started the match with the kick off in front of an excited audience. 3 minutes into the match, Flávio Rosa had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Benjamin das Neves. Imperial's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Flávio Rosa was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 1-0. In the 7th match minute, Imperial was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Inácio Queiroz to maneuver through the defense. In the 9th minute Inácio Queiroz shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Duda Lago saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Estrela Vermelha Paulista's Duda Lago played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Betinho Bastos in the 10th minute of play. Duda Lago stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of John Holm's shot from short distance in the 13th minute. Cristóvão Vidal hit a great freekick 14 minutes into the match. Duda Lago showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from John Holm, who was totally free with the ball in the 18th minute. In the 19th minute, Eliézer Damião fired away a shot on goal. He put a little to much spin on the ball and sent it just wide of the right post. Duda Lago showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Betinho Bastos, who was totally free with the ball in the 23rd minute. After 25 minutes, Mauro Freire mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Estrela Vermelha Paulista and the Imperial players grew even worse after the yellow card. Mauro Freire kicked well hit freekick during the 25th minute of the match. When Carlos Alberto Secco came up free with the goalie in the 30th minute, the Estrela Vermelha Paulista 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 Carlos Alberto Secco couldn't finish the play. 32 minutes into the match, Estrela Vermelha Paulista's goal looked a bit too open when Betinho Bastos came free, but Duda Lago reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After 32 minutes of play, Imperial's Betinho Bastos made it 1-1 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Duda Lago was left in no man's land by his defense there! After some careless play in the Estrela Vermelha Paulista defense, Betinho Bastos kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Duda Lago. The Estrela Vermelha Paulista fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Duda Lago should have stopped the shot. 39 minutes into the match, Imperial's goalkeeper Benjamin das Neves had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Eliézer Damião. After 45 minutes, Inácio Queiroz mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Imperial and the Estrela Vermelha Paulista players grew even worse after the yellow card. The supporters of Estrela Vermelha Paulista booed when Imperial was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 45 match minutes in a wonderful position. Inácio Queiroz didn't get a good kick on the ball. The Estrela Vermelha Paulista players were disheartened as they walked off the pitch after the first half. Imperial were winning 1-2.

Imperial's Benjamin das Neves played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Eliézer Damião in the 52nd minute of play. Benjamin das Neves took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Eliézer Damião, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. The audience thought a goal was coming when Rômulo Viana got free with Duda Lago in the 61st minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Rômulo Viana did some fancy footwork in front of goal and succeeded to deceive the defenders so he could slam the ball in 1-3 to the left of a surprised Duda Lago 63 minutes into the match. In the 69th minute Inácio Queiroz shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Duda Lago saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. If Flávio Rosa had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 73rd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. The audience thought a goal was coming when Rômulo Viana got free with Duda Lago in the 75th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Benjamin das Neves made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Carlos Alberto Secco in the 81st minute of play. Benjamin das Neves stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Eliézer Damião's shot from short distance in the 82nd minute. With a little luck, Estrela Vermelha Paulista's Duda Lago got control of the ball when John Holm tried to sneak it across the goal line. 91 minutes into the game, Estrela Vermelha Paulista's Carlos Alberto Secco nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Benjamin das Neves made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 3-3. John Holm recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 95th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. The teams fought very hard right up to the final whistle. Both sets of players were happy to go away with a draw.