U18 World League

NINHO de CUCOS
Spectators: 7564 (Terracing: 5674, Seating: 1739, VIP seats: 151) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Januário Martins started the match with the kick off. 4 minutes into the game, Eraldo Galante was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Zurlo Team's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Arrebimba o Malho SLB the free kick. After a rather tough play, Zurlo Team's Eraldo Galante got a free kick in the 4th minute. In the 5th minute, Ben Fica 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 a rather tough play, Zurlo Team's Eraldo Galante got a free kick in the 5th minute. 8 minutes into the game, Arrebimba o Malho SLB's Januário Martins nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Demetrio Crosta made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 1-0. After 14 played minutes Zurlo Team got a freekick which was hit by Daniele De Lorenzi. Januário Martins could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 16th minute of the match, but Demetrio Crosta made a huge save. In the 18th minute, Alvise Monti hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. A collision led to Zurlo Team getting a freekick after 26 minutes play. Anselmo Cirigliano hit a great ball. Arrebimba o Malho SLB's Lúcio Lopes played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Alvise Monti in the 28th minute of play. Demetrio Crosta took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Januário Martins, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Lúcio Lopes stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Alvise Monti's shot from short distance in the 32nd minute. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Januário Martins during the 34th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. Januário Martins hit a great freekick 34 minutes into the match. After a rather tough play, Arrebimba o Malho SLB's Adérito Valverde got a free kick in the 38th minute. An unexpectedly hard shot by Alvise Monti in the 40th minute of play forced Arrebimba o Malho SLB's goalkeeper Lúcio Lopes to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Zurlo Team's defense didn't have a chance, in the 47th minute, when Ben Fica scored to the left of an out of position Demetrio Crosta, making the score, 2-0. No-one was surprised that the home team were leading 2-0 at half-time.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Alvise Monti to make the kick off. In the 60th minute, Januário Martins made a precise shot to the right of Demetrio Crosta. Zurlo Team's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 3-0. Januário Martins blasted a shot towards the goal in the 66th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Demetrio Crosta having to make a save. In the 68thth minute of the game Ben Fica who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Zurlo Team's Demetrio Crosta was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. The corner ended in Olívio Soares almost managing to get the ball behind the net, but Zurlo Team's Demetrio Crosta did a great save. After a rather tough play, Zurlo Team's Anselmo Cirigliano got a free kick in the 80th minute. With his leg Lúcio Lopes managed to avoid a goal in the 82ndth minute, when Zurlo Team's Alvise Monti fired away a shot with a lot of spin towards his right hand side. In the 89th minute Ben Fica shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Demetrio Crosta saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. 94 minutes into the match, Zurlo Team's goal looked a bit too open when Januário Martins came free, but Demetrio Crosta reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Januário Martins sent away a hard shot on goal in the 96th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. If Ferdinando Zulli had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 98th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. It was no surprise that this one had ended in a win for the home team. Arrebimba o Malho SLB had played much better football throughout.