U23 World League

Salvatore Riina
Spectators: 7448 (Terracing: 5587, Seating: 1713, VIP seats: 148) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Wesley Tróia got the match started through his kick off. In the 2nd minute, Afonso Portugal 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. A collision led to Barra Funda F.C getting a freekick after 5 minutes play. Hortêncio Freire hit a great ball. In the 8th minute, Karim Mansouri left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The LA COSA NOSTRA fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 1-0. Timóteo Lage scored 3-0 in the 15th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Gugu Gaúcho, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. In the 18th minute, Timóteo Lage hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. With a little luck, Barra Funda F.C's Gugu Gaúcho got control of the ball when Karim Mansouri tried to sneak it across the goal line. After 31 minutes of play, LA COSA NOSTRA's Karim Mansouri made it 5-0 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Gugu Gaúcho was left in no man's land by his defense there! The supporters of LA COSA NOSTRA booed when Barra Funda F.C was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 36 match minutes in a wonderful position. Nelson Rosado didn't get a good kick on the ball. Timóteo Lages short, quick shot in the 38thth minute got Gugu Gaúcho to make great effort and bar the ball away from getting in. In the 38th minute of the game, Afonso Portugal landed unfortunately after trying to head the ball, and pulled a muscle in the back, so badly that he had to leave the field. LA COSA NOSTRA's Roberto Póvoas was substituted for Afonso Portugal. Gugu Gaúcho took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Timóteo Lage, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Timóteo Lage might have been able to make a better finish in the 43rd minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Gugu Gaúcho. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Timóteo Lage ran back to his position shaking his head. The audience thought a goal was coming when Karim Mansouri got free with Gugu Gaúcho in the 44th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. When the referee blew for the end of the half the home team players were clearly happier, as they went in to the break leading 5-0.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Timóteo Lage to make the kick off. Gugu Gaúcho showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Karim Mansouri, who was totally free with the ball in the 51st minute. Karim Mansouri sent away a hard shot on goal in the 53rd minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. When the match clock showed 53 minutes, the score became 6-0 when Karim Mansouri sped through Barra Funda F.C's defense and sent away a curving shot that went into the net to the right of Gugu Gaúcho. 57 minutes into the game, Aristides Mascarenhas was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. LA COSA NOSTRA's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Barra Funda F.C the free kick. Aristides Mascarenhas kicked well hit freekick during the 57th minute of the match. In the 61st match minute, LA COSA NOSTRA was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Adriano Almeida to maneuver through the defense. In the 65th minute Karim Mansouri shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Gugu Gaúcho saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Gugu Gaúcho made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Karim Mansouri in the 70th minute of play. Karim Mansouri scored 7-0 in the 74th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Gugu Gaúcho, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. 81 minutes into the match, Karim Mansouri had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Gugu Gaúcho. Barra Funda F.C's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Karim Mansouri was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 8-0. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Danilo Onofre during the 86th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. After 86 played minutes LA COSA NOSTRA got a freekick which was hit by Danilo Onofre. After a rather tough play, LA COSA NOSTRA's Rubim Malheiro got a free kick in the 89th minute. 94 minutes into the game, LA COSA NOSTRA's Karim Mansouri nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Gugu Gaúcho made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 9-0. LA COSA NOSTRA's supporters were delighted with their team's performance and swarmed onto the pitch at the end of the match to celebrate the victory with the players.