League

Pitangui
Spectators: 5000 (Terracing: 4000, Seating: 1000, VIP seats: 0) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Luizão Gonçalves started the match with the kick off. If Luiz Eduardo Marinho had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 7th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 8th minute Pedro Luís Pernambucano shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Andrézinho da Costa saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. After a defensive mix-up in Itahum's zone, Luizão Gonçalves stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Manuel Rosa came out of the goal and Luizão Gonçalves tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. In the 11th minute, Cristóvão Fernandes hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Manuel Rosa showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Luizão Gonçalves in the 12th minute of the match. After a defensive mix-up in Itahum's zone, Enéas Reis stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Manuel Rosa came out of the goal and Enéas Reis tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. After having played for 21 minutes, Pedro Luís Pernambucano managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Itahum's supporters crossed their fingers, but Pedro Luís Pernambucano was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. An unexpectedly hard shot by Luiz Eduardo Marinho in the 28th minute of play forced Mercenários FC's goalkeeper Andrézinho da Costa to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Gilberto Lira's late challenge caught a Itahum's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Gilberto Lira helped the player get up and apologised. In the 29th match minute, Mercenários FC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Gilberto Lira to maneuver through the defense. In the 30th minute of the match Paulo José Godoi sent off a long shot with destination to the right of the goalkeeper, but Andrézinho da Costa skillfully saved the ball. Gilberto Lira got his second yellow card in the match during the 30th minute which meant that he had to leave the ground. After 31 played minutes Mercenários FC got a freekick which was hit by Gilberto Lira. With a little luck, Itahum's Manuel Rosa got control of the ball when Luizão Gonçalves tried to sneak it across the goal line. If Vladimir Pirani had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 37th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 41st minute Mercenários FC were awarded a corner. Giovanni Perez went to the cornerflag to take it. The corner went over the outstretched arms of Itahum's goalie and right to Luizão Gonçalves. He fired away a shot at goal, but the shot had too much spin, and it went just outside the goal. Itahum's manager breathed a sigh of relief on the sidelines as his team had managed to escape an almost certain goal. 45 minutes into the match, Itahum's Luiz Eduardo Marinho sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Andrézinho da Costa narrowly saved just below the crossbar. The score stood at 0-0 when the half time whistle went. Both sets of players seemed reasonably pleased with how the match was going.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Luiz Eduardo Marinho to make the kick off. A collision led to Mercenários FC getting a freekick after 54 minutes play. Enéas Reis hit a great ball. Luiz Eduardo Marinho received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 63rd minute. Andrézinho da Costa tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. If Pedro Luís Pernambucano had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 64th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Marcelo Bittencourt fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 69th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Andrézinho da Costa having to interfere. When Pedro Luís Pernambucano fell near the penalty area in the 76th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Itahum's protests and gave Pedro Luís Pernambucano a yellow card for diving instead. A collision led to Itahum getting a freekick after 76 minutes play. Pedro Luís Pernambucano hit a great ball. After having played for 77 minutes, Pedro Peres managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Mercenários FC's supporters crossed their fingers, but Pedro Peres was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. After some fancy dribbling in the 79th minute, Luizão Gonçalves managed to get in a good position for a shot. Mercenários FC's supporters rose to their feet, but Luizão Gonçalves was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Manuel Rosa breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Chiquinho Lima hit a great freekick 80 minutes into the match. Pedro Peres fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 81st minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Manuel Rosa having to interfere. Manuel Rosa made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Enéas Reis in the 84th minute of play. Luizão Gonçalves struck a weak shot in the 85th minute. Manuel Rosa didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Mercenários FC. Enéas Reis fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 90th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Manuel Rosa having to interfere. If Luiz Eduardo Marinho had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 92nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Mercenários FC were unable to convert their possession into goals, allowing Itahum to leave the ground with a draw.