League

Willie Davids
Spectators: 7184 (Terracing: 5390, Seating: 1652, VIP seats: 142) Zé Pedro Sena started the match with the kick off in front of an excited audience. Yuri Esteves fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 3rd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without André Luís Dantas having to interfere. André Luís Dantas showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Yuri Esteves, who was totally free with the ball in the 5th minute. The supporters of Grêmio Maringá booed when São Paulo JA was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 13 match minutes in a wonderful position. Remo Reis didn't get a good kick on the ball. Ismael de Senna could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 18th minute of the match, but Artur Palmeira made a huge save. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Olavo Mesquita in the 22nd minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck André Luís Dantas prevented the ball from getting in the gole. Zé Pedro Sena sent away a hard shot on goal in the 25th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Ismael de Senna received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 28th minute. Artur Palmeira tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. If Ismael de Senna had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 29th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Germano Abraão during the 31st minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. In the 31st minute, one of São Paulo JA:s players had the ball in front of the goal but got pushed and fell. The referee felt it was an obvious case and blew a penalty for São Paulo JA. The goalkeeper, Artur Palmeira, was totally fooled by Grêmio Maringá's Erivaldo Paiva, who 32 minutes into the game made a penalty shot that went in on the goalkeeper's left side. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Edgard Messias during the 37th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. In the 38th minute of the match Reynaldo Aguiar sent off a long shot with destination to the right of the goalkeeper, but André Luís Dantas skillfully saved the ball. In the 39th minute, Zé Pedro Sena hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. In the 47th minute Yuri Esteves shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but André Luís Dantas saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 48th minute the ball was on its way in behind São Paulo JA's goalkeeper Artur Palmeira, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. All the noise was coming from the home fans when the whistle went for half-time. The home team had fought hardest to put themselves in a deserved lead.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Olavo Mesquita to strike the kick off in the second half. 53 minutes in the game, Olavo Mesquita fired away an excellent shot, which passed to the side of the right post without André Luís Dantas having to interfere. In the 56th minute Ismael de Senna shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Artur Palmeira saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 60th minute Zé Pedro Sena shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Artur Palmeira saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. 61 minutes into the match, Grêmio Maringá's goal looked a bit too open when Olavo Mesquita came free, but André Luís Dantas reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After having played for 67 minutes, Yuri Esteves managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. São Paulo JA's supporters crossed their fingers, but Yuri Esteves was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. André Luís Dantas showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Olavo Mesquita, who was totally free with the ball in the 70th minute. The audience thought a goal was coming when Yuri Esteves got free with André Luís Dantas in the 78th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Fausto Corrêa charged in rather forcefully in the 79th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Fausto Corrêa the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. Fausto Corrêa kicked well hit freekick during the 80th minute of the match. The long shot by Germano Abraão in the 86th minute really tested André Luís Dantas's skills. The ball was on its way into the goal to the left of him when he managed to stretch himself and save the shot and avoid a goal. The audience thought a goal was coming when Yuri Esteves got free with André Luís Dantas in the 88th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Severino Urbano's late challenge caught a Grêmio Maringá's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Severino Urbano helped the player get up and apologised. After 92 played minutes São Paulo JA got a freekick which was hit by Severino Urbano. After a defensive mix-up in São Paulo JA's zone, Erivaldo Paiva stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Artur Palmeira came out of the goal and Erivaldo Paiva tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. In the 98th minute Zé Pedro Sena shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Artur Palmeira saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. São Paulo JA's players left the field with heads hung low after losing a match that had been finely balanced throughout.