Friendly League

Estádio Giru
Spectators: 35 (Terracing: 27, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) Hamílton Couto made the kick off and thus started the match. 3 minutes into the match, Polzeath's goal looked a bit too open when Hamílton Couto came free, but John-Paul Nevin reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Richard Rogers hit a great freekick 4 minutes into the match. Hugo Montenegro showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Darius Bell, who was totally free with the ball in the 11th minute. After a rather tough play, Giru EC's Murillo dos Santos got a free kick in the 12th minute. The supporters of Polzeath booed when Giru EC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 14 match minutes in a wonderful position. Kléber Tande didn't get a good kick on the ball. In the 15th minute of the match Steve Stamer sent off a long shot with destination to the right of the goalkeeper, but Hugo Montenegro skillfully saved the ball. After some fancy dribbling in the 19th minute, Laerte Nóbrega managed to get in a good position for a shot. Giru EC's supporters rose to their feet, but Laerte Nóbrega was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. John-Paul Nevin breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Hamílton Couto in the 20th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck John-Paul Nevin prevented the ball from getting in the gole. 22 minutes into the match, Giru EC's Laerte Nóbrega sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that John-Paul Nevin narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Hugo Montenegro made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Syd Kinsey in the 23rd minute of play. In the 26th minute Richard Rogers shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Hugo Montenegro saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 27th minute Nicolas Fonseca shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but John-Paul Nevin saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. A collision led to Polzeath getting a freekick after 28 minutes play. Steve Stamer hit a great ball. In the 30th minute, Alexandre Varela 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. Hugo Montenegro showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Richard Rogers in the 32nd minute of the match. When Giru EC's Hamílton Couto in 37 game minutes managed to cut through with the ball in front of the goal, only having to shoot. John-Paul Nevin guarding the goal like a pit bull was extremely focused and managed to reach the ball just by the crossbar before it went in. Franz Scargill fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 39th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Hugo Montenegro having to interfere. Washington Gomes hit a great freekick 43 minutes into the match. 46 minutes into the game, Polzeath's Richard Rogers nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Hugo Montenegro made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 1-1.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Richard Rogers to make the kick off. Hugo Montenegro made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Richard Rogers in the 53rd minute of play. After 55 minutes Giru EC's defender was forced to head the ball over the line for a corner. It was Steve Stamer who took care of the corner kick. Steve Stamer made a great header on Polzeath's corner, it was just that Giru EC's Hugo Montenegro managed to reach the ball for a save. In the 62nd minute, Jeff Bateman hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. 64 minutes into the match, Giru EC's goal looked a bit too open when Richard Rogers came free, but Hugo Montenegro reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Hamílton Couto struck a weak shot in the 66th minute. John-Paul Nevin didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Giru EC. After some careless play in the Giru EC defense, Richard Rogers kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Hugo Montenegro. The Giru EC fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Hugo Montenegro should have stopped the shot. In the 75th minute the ball was on its way in behind Giru EC's goalkeeper Hugo Montenegro, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. John-Paul Nevin stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Alexandre Varela's shot from short distance in the 76th minute. After 78 played minutes Polzeath got a freekick which was hit by Jeff Bateman. A collision led to Polzeath getting a freekick after 80 minutes play. Stephen Stevens hit a great ball. In the 80th minute, Hamílton Couto 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. Laerte Nóbrega sent away a hard shot on goal in the 82nd minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. In the 84th minute Richard Rogers shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Hugo Montenegro saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. 86 minutes into the match, Polzeath's goal looked a bit too open when Hamílton Couto came free, but John-Paul Nevin reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 88th minute Richard Rogers shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Hugo Montenegro saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. After a defensive mix-up in Polzeath's zone, Alexandre Varela stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. John-Paul Nevin came out of the goal and Alexandre Varela tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. The Polzeath supporters could be heard counting down the last seconds of the match. They errupted in celebration when the whistle blew, knowing Polzeath would go home with victory in their luggage after a match that easily could have ended differently.