U23 World League

Arena Demarchi
Spectators: 7464 (Terracing: 5599, Seating: 1716, VIP seats: 149) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Alexsandro Britto started the match with the kick off. Oscar Saldanha took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Francisco Garcia, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Mané Xavier received a nice pass, split the defenders, and ran untouched towards the goal. Sidney Campidelis came out and tried to block the shot, but Mané Xavier slotted it home off the left post making it 1-0 in the 5th minute. Francisco Garcia fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 11th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Oscar Saldanha having to interfere. After a rather tough play, Squadra Demarchi's Richard Moura got a free kick in the 13th minute. Francisco Garcia struck a weak shot in the 14th minute. Oscar Saldanha didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Liga Esporte Paulo Afonso. After a rather tough play, Liga Esporte Paulo Afonso's Francisco Garcia got a free kick in the 14th minute. After 15 minutes, Claudinho Loyola mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Squadra Demarchi and the Liga Esporte Paulo Afonso players grew even worse after the yellow card. Ernesto Pereira who was well placed in front of the goal fired away a dangerous shot that in the 19thth minute tested the skills of Sidney Campidelis when he managed to save the team from getting behind. Liga Esporte Paulo Afonso's Sidney Campidelis played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Ernesto Pereira in the 26th minute of play. After a rather tough play, Squadra Demarchi's Samuel Ribeiro got a free kick in the 41st minute. After 45 played minutes Liga Esporte Paulo Afonso got a freekick which was hit by Jano Simões. No-one was surprised that the home team were leading 1-0 at half-time.

The wind increased when Francisco Garcia made the kick off in the second half. José Vítor de Sena hit a great freekick 51 minutes into the match. After 55 played minutes Squadra Demarchi got a freekick which was hit by Kléber Queirós. The long shot by Hélder Trigo in the 56th minute really tested Oscar Saldanha's skills. The ball was on its way into the goal to the left of him when he managed to stretch himself and save the shot and avoid a goal. 59 minutes into the match, Liga Esporte Paulo Afonso's goal looked a bit too open when Alexsandro Britto came free, but Sidney Campidelis reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 59th minute, Hélder Trigo hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Ernesto Pereira might have been able to make a better finish in the 61st minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Sidney Campidelis. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Ernesto Pereira ran back to his position shaking his head. 61 minutes into the match, Liga Esporte Paulo Afonso's goal looked a bit too open when Ernesto Pereira came free, but Sidney Campidelis reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. With a little luck, Squadra Demarchi's Oscar Saldanha got control of the ball when Renatinho Braga tried to sneak it across the goal line. Renatinho Braga blasted a shot towards the goal in the 71st minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Oscar Saldanha having to make a save. Francisco Garcia's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Oscar Saldanha read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 74th minute of play. Sidney Campidelis took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Ernesto Pereira, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 77th match minute, Liga Esporte Paulo Afonso was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by José Vítor de Sena to maneuver through the defense. Oscar Saldanha took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Francisco Garcia, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. 82 minutes into the game, Ernesto Pereira cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 2-0. Sidney Campidelis was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. Oscar Saldanha acted impressively in front of the goal and made a superb save when he, in the 86th minute, took the ball on the long shot from Fernandinho Paes. Francisco Garcia blasted a shot towards the goal in the 88th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Oscar Saldanha having to make a save. After some fancy dribbling in the 88th minute, Renatinho Braga managed to get in a good position for a shot. Liga Esporte Paulo Afonso's supporters rose to their feet, but Renatinho Braga was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Oscar Saldanha breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Sílvio Luís Lucas kicked well hit freekick during the 91st minute of the match. Sidney Campidelis made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Mané Xavier in the 93rd minute of play. The crowd rose to their feet and cheered when the referee blew the final whistle. Squadra Demarchi had won after a very even match.