Official Cup

Nilton Santos
Spectators: 158 (Terracing: 119, Seating: 36, VIP seats: 3) The mood of the audience was pleasant when Enrique Valladares made the kick off which started today's match. After 10 played minutes Botafogo MZRJ got a freekick which was hit by Josué Matos. In the 11th minute, John Weeke sent off a long shot on goal, but the shot was nowhere near the goal and Botafogo MZRJ's Férid Khalifa didn't even have to move. A collision led to Botafogo MZRJ getting a freekick after 12 minutes play. Josué Matos hit a great ball. Jacinto Rocha took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Matías Brasil, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. John Weeke scored 0-1 in the 19th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Férid Khalifa, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. Faustão Mello kicked well hit freekick during the 24th minute of the match. After 25 played minutes, Scarlet Speedster's John Weeke shot from a long distance, and at first it looked like the ball was going into the goal, but the goalkeeper Férid Khalifa came through and got his fingers on the ball before it flew over the goal line. He then quickly gripped the ball tighter before the forwards in Scarlet Speedster reached it. In the 27th minute, Mané da Costa hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. 28 minutes into the match, Botafogo MZRJ's goal looked a bit too open when Angelo Di Maria came free, but Férid Khalifa reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Jacinto Rocha stood somewhat misplaced when Matías Brasil came free in front of goal and shot 1-1 to the left of him in the 32 minute. In the 36th match minute, Botafogo MZRJ was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Paulo de Amorim to maneuver through the defense. In the 38th minute, Botafogo MZRJ's Matías Brasil dribbled the ball into the box and hit a shot with the outside of his foot, sending the keeper the wrong way. 2-1. With a little luck, Scarlet Speedster's Jacinto Rocha got control of the ball when Wágner Queirós tried to sneak it across the goal line. No-one was surprised that the home team were leading 2-1 at half-time.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Matías Brasil stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. Jacinto Rocha showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Paulo de Amorim in the 51st minute of the match. 53 minutes into the match, Angelo Di Maria had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Férid Khalifa. Botafogo MZRJ's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Angelo Di Maria was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 2-2. Paulo de Amorim's late challenge caught a Scarlet Speedster's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Paulo de Amorim helped the player get up and apologised. Paulo de Amorim hit a great freekick 58 minutes into the match. 59 minutes into the match, Botafogo MZRJ's goal looked a bit too open when Angelo Di Maria came free, but Férid Khalifa reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After a rather tough play, Botafogo MZRJ's Wágner Queirós got a free kick in the 60th minute. Matías Brasil recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 63rd minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. 64 minutes into the match, Scarlet Speedster's goal looked a bit too open when Marquinhos das Neves came free, but Jacinto Rocha reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After a rather tough play, Botafogo MZRJ's Marquinhos das Neves got a free kick in the 65th minute. The supporters of Botafogo MZRJ booed when Scarlet Speedster was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 66 match minutes in a wonderful position. Lino Paiva didn't get a good kick on the ball. Férid Khalifa was a little too slow when Angelo Di Maria got a fine hit on the ball which went right into the goal in the 69th minute. The score was now 2-3. When Célio Nóbrega fell near the penalty area in the 74th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Scarlet Speedster's protests and gave Célio Nóbrega a yellow card for diving instead. A collision led to Scarlet Speedster getting a freekick after 74 minutes play. Célio Nóbrega hit a great ball. An unexpectedly hard shot by Matías Brasil in the 79th minute of play forced Scarlet Speedster's goalkeeper Jacinto Rocha to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. After some fancy dribbling in the 81st minute, John Weeke managed to get in a good position for a shot. Scarlet Speedster's supporters rose to their feet, but John Weeke was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Férid Khalifa breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. In the 87th minute, Angelo Di Maria left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The Scarlet Speedster fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 2-4. If Marquinhos das Neves had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 90th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. The Scarlet Speedster players were relieved to hear the final whistle blow to end the match. The away crowd was happy to see their team win after a very tight game.