League

Parahiba
Spectators: 5000 (Terracing: 4000, Seating: 1000, VIP seats: 0) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Carlos Eduardo Miranda took the kick off in the first half of the match. If Celso Zanette had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 7th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Mário Matos showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Carlos Eduardo Miranda in the 10th minute of the match. Benedito Castro took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Enrique Baiano, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. After a rather tough play, COLUMBUS CREW BR's Olavo Arósio got a free kick in the 15th minute. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Carlos Eduardo Miranda in the 16th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Mário Matos prevented the ball from getting in the gole. When the match had gone on for 23 minutes, Celso Zanette put it in 0-1 from a short distance just to the right of Benedito Castro. After having played for 27 minutes, Magno de Amorim managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Parahiba AD's supporters crossed their fingers, but Magno de Amorim was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. The supporters of COLUMBUS CREW BR booed when Parahiba AD was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 29 match minutes in a wonderful position. Rubinho de Toledo didn't get a good kick on the ball. 34 minutes into the game, Carlos Eduardo Miranda was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Parahiba AD's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave COLUMBUS CREW BR the free kick. After 34 played minutes Parahiba AD got a freekick which was hit by Carlos Eduardo Miranda. After 36 minutes, Magno de Amorim mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Parahiba AD and the COLUMBUS CREW BR players grew even worse after the yellow card. A collision led to Parahiba AD getting a freekick after 36 minutes play. Magno de Amorim hit a great ball. An unexpected shot in the 38th minute by Magno de Amorim got the crowd on their feet, but to their dismay it went out on the left side. A collision led to COLUMBUS CREW BR getting a freekick after 39 minutes play. Olavo Arósio hit a great ball. Mário Matos made an important save on a dangerous shot by Magno de Amorim in the 45th minute. After the first half COLUMBUS CREW BR were leading 0-1. They had played with great self confidence throughout the first half and fully deserved their lead.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Celso Zanette to make the kick off. Leonardo Coutinho's late challenge caught a Parahiba AD's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Leonardo Coutinho helped the player get up and apologised. After a rather tough play, COLUMBUS CREW BR's Leonardo Coutinho got a free kick in the 52nd minute. Carlos Eduardo Miranda struck a weak shot in the 53rd minute. Mário Matos didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Parahiba AD. After 55 minutes, Celso Zanette made it 0-2 with a short kick to the right side. Parahiba AD's Benedito Castro tried to save the shot but he was too slow in reacting to the shot. After 62 played minutes, COLUMBUS CREW BR's Osvaldinho Travassos shot from a long distance, and at first it looked like the ball was going into the goal, but the goalkeeper Benedito Castro 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 COLUMBUS CREW BR reached it. Mário Matos made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Magno de Amorim in the 65th minute of play. 68 minutes into the game, Dinei Cruz was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. COLUMBUS CREW BR's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Parahiba AD the free kick. In the 68th match minute, COLUMBUS CREW BR was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Dinei Cruz to maneuver through the defense. In the 70th minute of the match Nelson Urbano shot from a long distance. The ball could have gone into the goal to the right of the goalkeeper, but Mário Matos showed his good shape when he easily got hold of the ball. The audience thought a goal was coming when Celso Zanette got free with Benedito Castro in the 73rd minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. If Magno de Amorim had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 74th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Leonardo Coutinho got his second yellow card in the match during the 78th minute which meant that he had to leave the ground. In the 79th minute, Leonardo Coutinho hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. A collision led to Parahiba AD getting a freekick after 80 minutes play. Carlos Eduardo Miranda hit a great ball. Jorge Paraíba hit a great freekick 87 minutes into the match. The COLUMBUS CREW BR supporters could be heard counting down the last seconds of the match. They errupted in celebration when the whistle blew, knowing COLUMBUS CREW BR would go home with victory in their luggage after a match that easily could have ended differently.