U23 World League

City Palace Stadium
Spectators: 7514 (Terracing: 5636, Seating: 1728, VIP seats: 150) After 3 played minutes SC Braga got a freekick which was hit by Álvaro Malheiro. Hélio Cerqueira kicked well hit freekick during the 5th minute of the match. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Hugo Pinheiro during the 10th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. 13 minutes into the match, Cardiff City FC's Camilo Fagondo sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Albérico Vilaverde narrowly saved just below the crossbar. In the 15th minute Teófilo Azevedo shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Vladimiro Leobardo saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Camilo Fagondo struck a weak shot in the 18th minute. Albérico Vilaverde didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Cardiff City FC. In the 20th minute, Edgard Estevez hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. After having played for 21 minutes, Jesualdo Sacramento managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. SC Braga's supporters crossed their fingers, but Jesualdo Sacramento was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Vladimiro Leobardo showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Teófilo Azevedo in the 27th minute of the match. 28 minutes in the game, Primitivo Ciano fired away an excellent shot, which passed to the side of the right post without Albérico Vilaverde having to interfere. In the 29th match minute, SC Braga was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Honorato Calado to maneuver through the defense. After 30 played minutes Cardiff City FC got a freekick which was hit by Paulo Lorencio. Vladimiro Leobardo showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Octávio Moita, who was totally free with the ball in the 37th minute. The supporters of Cardiff City FC booed when SC Braga was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 41 match minutes in a wonderful position. Hélio Cerqueira didn't get a good kick on the ball. Oscar Blai sent away a hard shot on goal in the 42nd minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. 46 minutes into the match, Cardiff City FC's goal looked a bit too open when Jesualdo Sacramento came free, but Vladimiro Leobardo reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Vladimiro Leobardo came out of the goal in the 47th minute to try and stop a shot by SC Braga's Celso Belo. But to his dismay, Celso Belo quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 0-1. The crowd was extremely unhappy with the home team's performance in the first half. They were losing 0-1.

An unexpectedly hard shot by Teófilo Azevedo in the 53rd minute of play forced Cardiff City FC's goalkeeper Vladimiro Leobardo to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. When Hélio Cerqueira fell near the penalty area in the 72nd minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored SC Braga's protests and gave Hélio Cerqueira a yellow card for diving instead. If Primitivo Ciano had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 73rd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. With an all-out effort, SC Braga's Vladimiro Leobardo threw himself towards the right post 78 minutes into the match and grabbed hold of the ball from Teófilo Azevedo, which otherwise would have been placed in the net. 87 minutes into the match, SC Braga's goal looked a bit too open when Oscar Blai came free, but Albérico Vilaverde reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Vladimiro Leobardo showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Teófilo Azevedo, who was totally free with the ball in the 91st minute. The audience thought a goal was coming when Jesualdo Sacramento got free with Vladimiro Leobardo in the 93rd minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Octávio Moita hit a great freekick 97 minutes into the match. The away crowd were delighted with the way their team had played and cheered loudly when the final whistle sounded. SC Braga walked away with the win, even though the match was close until the end.