League

Arena Rubro Negra
Spectators: 7188 (Terracing: 5393, Seating: 1653, VIP seats: 142) Vasco da Gama's Wiliam Souza started the match with a crisp pass. The crowd had been anticipating this game for weeks and the excitement in the stadium was easily visible. After a rather tough play, Vasco da Gama's Eurico Trigo got a free kick in the 10th minute. After 11 played minutes, Atlético Salvador's Valdir Neves shot from a long distance, and at first it looked like the ball was going into the goal, but the goalkeeper Zé Paulo Esteves came through and got his fingers on the ball before it flew over the goal line. He then quickly gripped the ball tighter before the forwards in Atlético Salvador reached it. Zé Paulo Esteves made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Marcel Leal in the 12th minute of play. Marcel Leal received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 14th minute. Zé Paulo Esteves tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. 15 minutes into the game, Breno de Sousa recieved a splendid long ball, split the defenders, and gently placed the ball to the left of Zé Paulo Esteves. Breno de Sousa showed that you don't have to tear a hole in the net to score, 2-0. Valdir Neves hit a great freekick 18 minutes into the match. Zé Paulo Esteves showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Marcel Leal, who was totally free with the ball in the 22nd minute. Dudu Toledo stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Wiliam Souza's shot from short distance in the 33rd minute. A collision led to Atlético Salvador getting a freekick after 35 minutes play. Matheus Tavares hit a great ball. Cláudio Meira struck a weak shot in the 36th minute. Dudu Toledo didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Vasco da Gama. The supporters of Atlético Salvador booed when Vasco da Gama was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 39 match minutes in a wonderful position. Cido Maranhense didn't get a good kick on the ball. Dudu Toledo showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Wiliam Souza in the 42nd minute of the match. When the referee blew for the end of the half the home team players were clearly happier, as they went in to the break leading 2-0.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Marcel Leal was the one to do the kick off. After some fancy dribbling in the 51st minute, Carlos Torres managed to get in a good position for a shot. Vasco da Gama's supporters rose to their feet, but Carlos Torres was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Dudu Toledo breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Dudu Toledo showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Wiliam Souza, who was totally free with the ball in the 53rd minute. When Cido Maranhense came up free with the goalie in the 54th minute, the Vasco da Gama 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 Cido Maranhense couldn't finish the play. The crowd rose to their feet as Wiliam Souza kicked a wonderful shot that went in to the left of a diving Dudu Toledo. That made the score 2-1 in the 55 minute of play. After 63 played minutes Vasco da Gama got a freekick which was hit by Arthur Jacinto. Vasco da Gama's Zé Paulo Esteves played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Breno de Sousa in the 65th minute of play. When Cido Maranhense fell near the penalty area in the 67th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Vasco da Gama's protests and gave Cido Maranhense a yellow card for diving instead. Wiliam Souza sent away a hard shot on goal in the 71st minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After 72 minutes of play, Vasco da Gama's Wiliam Souza made it 2-2 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Dudu Toledo was left in no man's land by his defense there! Carlos Torres received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 84th minute. Dudu Toledo tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. 86 minutes into the game, Wiliam Souza lined in a short shot 2-3 behind a frustrated Dudu Toledo. Zé Paulo Esteves made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Breno de Sousa in the 93rd minute of play. 96 minutes into the match, Cido Maranhense notched a goal, 2-4, to the right of Atlético Salvador's Dudu Toledo. Dudu Toledo was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. When the final whistle sounded Vasco da Gama left the ground with the victory after a much better performance than Atlético Salvador.