U23 World League

Diego A Maradona
Spectators: 7695 (Terracing: 5772, Seating: 1770, VIP seats: 153) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Marcos Petrigai got the match started through his kick off. Nilson Souto might have been able to make a better finish in the 3rd minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Celestino Gervaso. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Nilson Souto ran back to his position shaking his head. Celestino Gervaso showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Luís Brito, who was totally free with the ball in the 5th minute. Psycho-Circus's Celestino Gervaso played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Nilson Souto in the 9th minute of play. When Edvaldo Peixoto fell near the penalty area in the 15th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Clube Atletico Alagoano's protests and gave Edvaldo Peixoto a yellow card for diving instead. After a rather tough play, Clube Atletico Alagoano's Edvaldo Peixoto got a free kick in the 16th minute. When Wesley Lara came up free with the goalie in the 18th minute, the Clube Atletico Alagoano fans jumped to their feet. But the shot missed the goal by a fraction of an inch, and the fans sat back down disappointed that Wesley Lara couldn't finish the play. In the 20th match minute, Psycho-Circus was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Placido Confesor to maneuver through the defense. Edvaldo Peixoto recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 21st minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Celestino Gervaso took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Nilson Souto, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. If Nilson Souto had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 28th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. In the 29th minute Marcos Petrigai shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Afonsinho Nunes saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. After 30 played minutes Clube Atletico Alagoano got a freekick which was hit by Edvaldo Peixoto. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Marcos Petrigai in the 33rd minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Afonsinho Nunes prevented the ball from getting in the gole. After 36 played minutes, Clube Atletico Alagoano's Joel Palmeira shot from a long distance, and at first it looked like the ball was going into the goal, but the goalkeeper Celestino Gervaso 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 Clube Atletico Alagoano reached it. Jarbas Paraibano hit a great freekick 41 minutes into the match. A collision led to Clube Atletico Alagoano getting a freekick after 45 minutes play. Wesley Lara hit a great ball. An unexpectedly hard shot by Nilson Souto in the 47th minute of play forced Psycho-Circus's goalkeeper Celestino Gervaso to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. After a very even first half the match was still tied. The players went to their respective dressing rooms to discuss the tactics for the second half.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Nilson Souto was the one to do the kick off. 54 minutes into the match, Clube Atletico Alagoano's goal looked a bit too open when Marcos Petrigai came free, but Afonsinho Nunes reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. An unexpectedly hard shot by Nilson Souto in the 55th minute of play forced Psycho-Circus's goalkeeper Celestino Gervaso to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Psycho-Circus's Irwin Thomas got a good chance for a goal in the 60th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Psycho-Circus made a substitution. Serafino Goizeder replaced Lucio Soter. In the 63rd minute Psycho-Circus were awarded a corner. Lucio Duardo went to the cornerflag to take it. Psycho-Circus's Lucio Duardo was first on the ball when the corner was shot and he dangerously headed the ball towards goal, but Afonsinho Nunes in the goal jumped up to prevent it from getting in. In the 65th match minute, Clube Atletico Alagoano was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Diogo Leal to maneuver through the defense. Afonsinho Nunes came out of the goal in the 68th minute to try and stop a shot by Psycho-Circus's Alejo Cucao. But to his dismay, Alejo Cucao quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 1-0. Wesley Lara sent away a hard shot on goal in the 76th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. In the 79th match minute, Clube Atletico Alagoano was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Edvaldo Peixoto to maneuver through the defense. Celestino Gervaso made an important save on a dangerous shot by Luís Brito in the 87th minute. In the 88th minute of the match Clube Atletico Alagoano got a corner. Psycho-Circus's goalie ran out to the linesman to protest the call, but the linesman resolutely pointed his flag at the cornerflag. Edvaldo Peixoto ran over to the corner to take the kick. It was a well-played corner which Guerau Codosal managed to volley towards the net. Unfortunately, he didn't get a great hit on the ball and it went out into the grandstand. Psycho-Circus's fans were exulted and cheered after their team won in a match that could easily have gone the other way.