U21 World League

ARENA MINEIRA
Spectators: 7500 (Terracing: 5625, Seating: 1725, VIP seats: 150) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Nildo Pereira got the match started through his kick off. In the 5th minute, César Vinhas hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. 6 minutes into the match, COURO COME FC's goal looked a bit too open when Oscar Seco came free, but José Maria Pontes reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 8th minute of the match, Christian Botelho got a very nice opportunity to score, but Giovani de Amaral was well-placed and pushed the ball away from the goal at the left post. Afonsinho Mattos kicked well hit freekick during the 14th minute of the match. Nildo Pereira struck a weak shot in the 19th minute. Giovani de Amaral didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for COURO COME FC. José Maria Pontes showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Pedro Augusto de Barros in the 23rd minute of the match. Christian Botelho received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 31st minute. Giovani de Amaral tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. 35 minutes into the match, COURO COME FC's goal looked a bit too open when Pedro Augusto de Barros came free, but José Maria Pontes reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. COURO COME FC were furious when Benê Alvarenga was red carded, 37 minutes into the game, but the referee dismissed their protests. After 36 minutes of play, the referee blew the whistle. It was a penalty for COURO COME FC! Portuguesa's Giovani de Amaral played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by William Rossi in the 42nd minute of play. After a rather tough play, COURO COME FC's Jeferson Couto got a free kick in the 42nd minute. Even after changing tactics the home team jogged off the field with a 0-1 deficit. They would have to work harder if they wanted to turn things around in the second half.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Oscar Seco to make the kick off. Yuri de Queiroz kicked well hit freekick during the 52nd minute of the match. In the 53rd minute, César Vinhas 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. In the 57th minute William Rossi shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Giovani de Amaral saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Giovani de Amaral took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from William Rossi, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. 62 minutes into the match, COURO COME FC's goal looked a bit too open when Hamílton de Almeida came free, but José Maria Pontes reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. The audience was convinced that Christian Botelho's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Giovani de Amaral was relentless in the 64th minute of the game. A collision led to Portuguesa getting a freekick after 64 minutes play. Raúl Rosado hit a great ball. José Maria Pontes stood somewhat misplaced when Pedro Augusto de Barros came free in front of goal and shot 0-2 to the left of him in the 68 minute. COURO COME FC's José Maria Pontes proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 72nd minute of the match, managed to save COURO COME FC from getting a goal against them. An unexpectedly hard shot by Oscar Seco in the 74th minute of play forced COURO COME FC's goalkeeper José Maria Pontes to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. With a little luck, COURO COME FC's José Maria Pontes got control of the ball when Pedro Augusto de Barros tried to sneak it across the goal line. After a rather tough play, COURO COME FC's Walmir Vale got a free kick in the 79th minute. When Yuri de Queiroz was, once again, overly rough in his play he received his second yellow card and was ordered off the ground. 82 minutes had been played. If César Vinhas had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 83rd minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. In the 88th minute Oscar Seco shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but José Maria Pontes saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. The audience thought a goal was coming when Raúl Rosado got free with José Maria Pontes in the 92nd minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. In the 93rd minute Oscar Seco shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but José Maria Pontes saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Portuguesa's players went to the stands to thank the travelling support. The fan's backing had helped spurr the team on to a fine performance that won them the match.