Friendly League

DAVID de AZEVEDO
Spectators: 40 (Terracing: 31, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) Gracie Barra's Augusto Saldanha started the match with a crisp pass. The crowd had been anticipating this game for weeks and the excitement in the stadium was easily visible. In the 5th minute the ball was on its way in behind Gracie Barra's goalkeeper Falcão Cunha, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. In the 6th minute Villaverde Celeste Clube were awarded a corner. Guo Ao went to the cornerflag to take it. It was a well-played corner which Dino Manfredi managed to volley towards the net. Unfortunately, he didn't get a great hit on the ball and it went out into the grandstand. Gracie Barra's Falcão Cunha played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Roy Makaay in the 10th minute of play. A collision led to Villaverde Celeste Clube getting a freekick after 12 minutes play. Dino Manfredi hit a great ball. In the 15th minute Roy Makaay shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Falcão Cunha saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. The crowd rose to their feet as Roy Makaay kicked a wonderful shot that went in to the left of a diving Falcão Cunha. That made the score 1-0 in the 25 minute of play. In the 28th minute Augusto Saldanha shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Nenko Reza saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Roy Makaay's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Falcão Cunha read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 31st minute of play. Gracie Barra's Falcão Cunha played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Roy Makaay in the 33rd minute of play. After 34 minutes Gracie Barra's defender was forced to head the ball over the line for a corner. It was Guo Ao who took care of the corner kick. The corner ended in Guo Ao almost managing to get the ball behind the net, but Gracie Barra's Falcão Cunha did a great save. Augusto Saldanha blasted a shot towards the goal in the 38th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Nenko Reza having to make a save. Guo Ao recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 40th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Nicolai Otamendi hit a great freekick 41 minutes into the match. In the 42nd minute, Şamil Sağman 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. After 44 played minutes Villaverde Celeste Clube got a freekick which was hit by Armandinho Xavier. Nenko Reza took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Augusto Saldanha, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. The home fans were very happy to see their team leading 1-0 at half-time.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Roy Makaay to make the kick off. After 58 played minutes Villaverde Celeste Clube got a freekick which was hit by William Lucas. After a rather tough play, Villaverde Celeste Clube's William Lucas got a free kick in the 58th minute. In the 61st minute, Gracie Barra's Augusto Saldanha dribbled the ball into the box and hit a shot with the outside of his foot, sending the keeper the wrong way. 1-1. Gracie Barra's Ke Feng Zhen was substituted for Augusto Saldanha. The crowd rose to their feet as Gracie Barra's Murphey Shipman slotted home a wonderful shot that went in to the left of Nenko Reza. That made the score 1-2 after 68 minutes of play. A collision led to Villaverde Celeste Clube getting a freekick after 73 minutes play. Dino Manfredi hit a great ball. Nenko Reza made a fantastic save in the 74th minute, when Jago Štriker sent off a good shot on target. After 78 minutes of play, Villaverde Celeste Clube's Kıraç Uskan made it 2-2 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Falcão Cunha was left in no man's land by his defense there! Ke Feng Zhen fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 80th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Nenko Reza having to interfere. In the 82nd minute Roy Makaay shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Falcão Cunha saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Gracie Barra's Falcão Cunha played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Kıraç Uskan in the 84th minute of play. Nenko Reza showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Jago Štriker, who was totally free with the ball in the 87th minute. 88 minutes into the match, Gracie Barra's goal looked a bit too open when Kıraç Uskan came free, but Falcão Cunha reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. A collision led to Villaverde Celeste Clube getting a freekick after 91 minutes play. Zeledon Vachon hit a great ball. Şamil Sağman's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Nenko Reza read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 95th minute of play. Jeers came from both ends of the stadium when the final whistle went. Neither team had looked impressive and the draw seeemd a fair result.