League

St Andrews Stadium
Spectators: 5000 (Terracing: 4000, Seating: 1000, VIP seats: 0) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Almir de Sousa took the kick off in the first half of the match. Almir de Sousa fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 3rd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Perivaldo Aparecido having to interfere. Vitinho Baiano's late challenge caught a BIRMINGHAM's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Vitinho Baiano helped the player get up and apologised. After a rather tough play, FC Holfinburg's Vitinho Baiano got a free kick in the 5th minute. With his leg Eurico Sampaio managed to avoid a goal in the 7thth minute, when BIRMINGHAM's Rony Cardoso fired away a shot with a lot of spin towards his right hand side. In the 11th minute, Marcelinho Motta hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. In the 17th minute of the match, Alfredinho Pitta tried to roll the ball into the goal by the right post, but Eurico Sampaio saw his intentions and got control of the ball before it passed the line. 22 minutes into the game, Alfredinho Pitta recieved a splendid long ball, split the defenders, and gently placed the ball to the left of Eurico Sampaio. Alfredinho Pitta showed that you don't have to tear a hole in the net to score, 1-0. BIRMINGHAM's Perivaldo Aparecido played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Almir de Sousa in the 27th minute of play. With a little luck, FC Holfinburg's Eurico Sampaio got control of the ball when Rony Cardoso tried to sneak it across the goal line. BIRMINGHAM's Rony Cardoso got a good chance for a goal in the 35th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. After 42 played minutes FC Holfinburg got a freekick which was hit by Marcelinho Motta. 45 minutes into the game, Alfredinho Pitta recieved a splendid long ball, split the defenders, and gently placed the ball to the left of Eurico Sampaio. Alfredinho Pitta showed that you don't have to tear a hole in the net to score, 2-0. Af the end of the first half the score was 2-0. The first half had gone as expected for the home team.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Alfredinho Pitta made a kick off. Alfredinho Pitta sent away a hard shot on goal in the 59th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Rony Cardoso recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 61st minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Alfredinho Pitta scored 3-0 in the 63rd match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Eurico Sampaio, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. In the 67th minute, Rony Cardoso 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. Rony Cardoso might have been able to make a better finish in the 70th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Eurico Sampaio. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Rony Cardoso ran back to his position shaking his head. In the 71st minute Alfredinho Pitta shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Eurico Sampaio saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Rony Cardoso sent away a hard shot on goal in the 74th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Alfredinho Pitta received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 77th minute. Eurico Sampaio tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Eurico Sampaio showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Rony Cardoso in the 84th minute of the match. Alfredinho Pitta's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Eurico Sampaio read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 88th minute of play. Eurico Sampaio showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Rony Cardoso in the 90th minute of the match. In the 92nd minute, Rony Cardoso hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. BIRMINGHAM's supporters were delighted with their team's performance and swarmed onto the pitch at the end of the match to celebrate the victory with the players.