U23 World League

Arena Prudente
Spectators: 7789 (Terracing: 5843, Seating: 1791, VIP seats: 155) Grêmio Prudente's Valdemar Valle 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. After some careless play in the Grêmio Prudente defense, Luiz Guilherme Varela kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Thiago Couto. The Grêmio Prudente fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Thiago Couto should have stopped the shot. Valdemar Valle received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 10th minute. Nilson do Vale tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Billy Dowdall fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 12th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Thiago Couto having to interfere. Billy Dowdall fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 14th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Thiago Couto having to interfere. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Billy Dowdall in the 16th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Thiago Couto prevented the ball from getting in the gole. 18 minutes into the game, Daniel Brasil cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 0-2. Thiago Couto was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. The crowd rose to their feet as Grêmio Prudente's Valdemar Valle slotted home a wonderful shot that went in to the left of Nilson do Vale. That made the score 1-2 after 21 minutes of play. 31 minutes into the game, Bandelocos's Valdir Garcia nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Thiago Couto made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 1-4. Nilson do Vale made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Valdemar Valle in the 42nd minute of play. After the first half Bandelocos were leading 1-4. They had played with great self confidence throughout the first half and fully deserved their lead.

Thiago Couto took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Billy Dowdall, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 62nd minute, Valdir Garcia ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Thiago Couto was frozen by the shot and now it was 1-5. Thiago Couto made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Billy Dowdall in the 72nd minute of play. Thiago Couto showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Maurinho Vargas in the 74th minute of the match. An unexpectedly hard shot by Valdir Garcia in the 75th minute of play forced Grêmio Prudente's goalkeeper Thiago Couto to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Thiago Couto was a little too slow when Valdir Garcia got a fine hit on the ball which went right into the goal in the 76th minute. The score was now 1-6. Deivid Prestes fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 79th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Nilson do Vale having to interfere. The audience thought a goal was coming when Daniel Brasil got free with Thiago Couto in the 82nd minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Valdir Garcia in the 84th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Thiago Couto saved Grêmio Prudente from getting behind. With a little luck, Grêmio Prudente's Thiago Couto got control of the ball when Daniel Brasil tried to sneak it across the goal line. The Bandelocos 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.