League

Alcides Santos
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. Hélio Prado started the match with the kick off. In the 3rd match minute, Real Monlevade FC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Ian Linhares to maneuver through the defense. The supporters of Real Monlevade FC booed when Fortaleza EC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 6 match minutes in a wonderful position. Mané Pinho didn't get a good kick on the ball. Joélson Mattos stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Pedro Salgado's shot from short distance in the 7th minute. Francisco de Queirós took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Hélio Prado, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. An unexpectedly hard shot by Belmiro Xavier in the 11th minute of play forced Fortaleza EC's goalkeeper Joélson Mattos to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Alessandro Arruda could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 15th minute of the match, but Francisco de Queirós made a huge save. In the 26th minute, Pedro Salgado ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Joélson Mattos was frozen by the shot and now it was 1-1. In the 29th match minute, Real Monlevade FC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Belmiro Xavier to maneuver through the defense. 32 minutes into the match, Belmiro Xavier notched a goal, 1-2, to the right of Fortaleza EC's Joélson Mattos. Joélson Mattos was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. With a little luck, Real Monlevade FC's Francisco de Queirós got control of the ball when Alessandro Arruda tried to sneak it across the goal line. A collision led to Fortaleza EC getting a freekick after 41 minutes play. Mané Pinho hit a great ball. 43 minutes into the match, Fortaleza EC's goal looked a bit too open when Luiz Fernando Ramalho came free, but Joélson Mattos reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After a defensive mix-up in Real Monlevade FC's zone, Benedito Paraíba stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Francisco de Queirós came out of the goal and Benedito Paraíba tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play.

The wind increased when Pedro Salgado made the kick off in the second half. In the 55th minute Hélio Prado shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Francisco de Queirós saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Alessandro Arruda in the 65th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Francisco de Queirós saved Real Monlevade FC from getting behind. In the 68th minute, Benedito Paraíba 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. Alessandro Arruda struck a weak shot in the 71st minute. Francisco de Queirós didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Fortaleza EC. When the match had gone on for 73 minutes, Hélio Prado put it in 2-2 from a short distance just to the right of Francisco de Queirós. A collision led to Fortaleza EC getting a freekick after 77 minutes play. Luís Guilherme Teixeira hit a great ball. Júlio Campidelis sent away a hard shot on goal in the 78th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After a rather tough play, Fortaleza EC's Mané Pinho got a free kick in the 83rd minute. In the 85th match minute, Real Monlevade FC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Ian Linhares to maneuver through the defense. In the 87th match minute, Real Monlevade FC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Luiz Fernando Ramalho to maneuver through the defense. 89 minutes into the match, Hélio Prado notched a goal, 3-2, to the right of Real Monlevade FC's Francisco de Queirós. Francisco de Queirós was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. If Alessandro Arruda had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 95th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. When the referee ended the match the Fortaleza EC players were able to celebrate. They had won a fair victory and recieved the ovations of their fans.