Official Cup

Nilton Santos
Spectators: 147 (Terracing: 111, Seating: 34, VIP seats: 2) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Marcinho Simões started the match with the kick off. In the 4th minute, Marcinho Simões left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The Maraponga FAC fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 0-1. After 7 minutes, Caco Matos mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Botafogo AP and the Maraponga FAC players grew even worse after the yellow card. The supporters of Maraponga FAC booed when Botafogo AP was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 7 match minutes in a wonderful position. Caco Matos didn't get a good kick on the ball. If Válbson Queirós had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 8th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After some fancy dribbling in the 10th minute, Edson Tavares managed to get in a good position for a shot. Botafogo AP's supporters rose to their feet, but Edson Tavares was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Jardel Falcão breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Gilmar de Mendonça showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Marcinho Simões, who was totally free with the ball in the 11th minute. After having played for 13 minutes, Caco Matos managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Botafogo AP's supporters crossed their fingers, but Caco Matos was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Gilmar de Mendonça made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Marcinho Simões in the 18th minute of play. In the 21st minute Marcinho Simões shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Gilmar de Mendonça saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Gilmar de Mendonça didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Válbson Queirós went, in the 26th minute, to the upper right corner, 0-2 was the resulting score. 32 minutes into the game, Botafogo AP's Caco Matos nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Jardel Falcão made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 1-2. Marcinho Simões sent away a hard shot on goal in the 43rd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Caco Matos stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. Marcinho Simões received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 51st minute. Gilmar de Mendonça tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Botafogo AP's Gilmar de Mendonça proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 61st minute of the match, managed to save Botafogo AP from getting a goal against them. In the 64th minute, Válbson Queirós hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Válbson Queirós struck a weak shot in the 65th minute. Gilmar de Mendonça didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Maraponga FAC. Botafogo AP's Lino Trancoso was substituted for Ronaldinho Félix. Botafogo AP's Caco Matos got a good chance for a goal in the 72nd minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Botafogo AP made a substitution. Júlio Santana replaced Maicon Veiga. Caco Matos sent away a hard shot on goal in the 76th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. 79 minutes into the match, Botafogo AP's goalkeeper Gilmar de Mendonça had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Marcinho Simões. After 81 minutes, Marcinho Simões made it 1-3 with a short kick to the right side. Botafogo AP's Gilmar de Mendonça tried to save the shot but he was too slow in reacting to the shot. After some fancy dribbling in the 95th minute, Válbson Queirós managed to get in a good position for a shot. Maraponga FAC's supporters rose to their feet, but Válbson Queirós was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Gilmar de Mendonça breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. The referee blew the final whistle, and the away crowd roared, having watched Maraponga FAC eke out a victory against a very well matched opponent.