U23 World League

THE RED MACHINE
Spectators: 7578 (Terracing: 5684, Seating: 1743, VIP seats: 151) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when Donato Vachon kicked off to start the match. After 5 minutes, Nicanor Gaufred mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Palermo and the Rio Verde F.C CIMZ players grew even worse after the yellow card. In the 6th minute, Nicanor Gaufred hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Zeca Garcia hit a great freekick 12 minutes into the match. 13 minutes into the match, Rio Verde F.C CIMZ's goalkeeper Karim Bado had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Donato Vachon. When the match clock showed 38 minutes, the score became 0-2 when Frederico França sped through Palermo's defense and sent away a curving shot that went into the net to the right of Enrique Lekubegi. After some fancy dribbling in the 45th minute, Frederico França managed to get in a good position for a shot. Rio Verde F.C CIMZ's supporters rose to their feet, but Frederico França was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Enrique Lekubegi breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. An unexpectedly hard shot by Nicolas França in the 47th minute of play forced Palermo's goalkeeper Enrique Lekubegi to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. After the first half Rio Verde F.C CIMZ were leading 0-2. They had played with great self confidence throughout the first half and fully deserved their lead.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Frederico França to make the kick off. In the 52nd match minute, Rio Verde F.C CIMZ was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Nicolas França to maneuver through the defense. In the 55thth minute of the game Frederico França who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Palermo's Enrique Lekubegi was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. After a rather tough play, Rio Verde F.C CIMZ's Zeca Garcia got a free kick in the 61st minute. Karim Bado made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Ulises Hernandez in the 61st minute of play. After a rather tough play, Rio Verde F.C CIMZ's Zeca Garcia got a free kick in the 63rd minute. Frederico França could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 68th minute of the match, but Enrique Lekubegi made a huge save. Sidnei Sanches shot from long distance in the 71st minute, but Enrique Lekubegi was prepared and stopped the ball at the left post. Karim Bado made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Rafael Hondo in the 74th minute of play. After 78 played minutes Palermo got a freekick which was hit by Oscar Eguen. An unexpectedly hard shot by Ke Chang Lin in the 79th minute of play forced Palermo's goalkeeper Enrique Lekubegi to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 80th minute Rio Verde F.C CIMZ were awarded a corner. Ke Chang Lin went to the cornerflag to take it. After taking down the ball on Rio Verde F.C CIMZ's corner Ke Chang Lin fired away a hard shot, but the defenders efficiently covered the most dangerous angles and Enrique Lekubegi quite easily take care of the ball. When the match had gone on for 82 minutes, Donato Vachon put it in 1-2 from a short distance just to the right of Karim Bado. Rio Verde F.C CIMZ's Renan Tepedino was substituted for Sidnei Sanches. After 88 played minutes Rio Verde F.C CIMZ got a freekick which was hit by Nicolas França. The Rio Verde F.C CIMZ supporters could be heard counting down the last seconds of the match. They errupted in celebration when the whistle blew, knowing Rio Verde F.C CIMZ would go home with victory in their luggage after a match that easily could have ended differently.