League

Feliciano Gambarte
Spectators: 10811 (Terracing: 8110, Seating: 2486, VIP seats: 215) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Casimiro Quinito took the kick off in the first half of the match. 6 minutes into the match, CA Piratas's goal looked a bit too open when Ivor Whitehead came free, but Elano Pimenta reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. An unexpectedly hard shot by Zhu Quan in the 7th minute of play forced CA Piratas's goalkeeper Elano Pimenta to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Dennis Baldwin stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Casimiro Quinito's shot from short distance in the 9th minute. Kubilay Hezarfen's late challenge caught a El Expreso's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Kubilay Hezarfen helped the player get up and apologised. Kubilay Hezarfen kicked well hit freekick during the 10th minute of the match. With a little luck, CA Piratas's Elano Pimenta got control of the ball when Ivor Whitehead tried to sneak it across the goal line. After 13 played minutes CA Piratas got a freekick which was hit by Kubilay Hezarfen. Ivor Whitehead could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 17th minute of the match, but Elano Pimenta made a huge save. Elano Pimenta took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Zhu Quan, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. If Zhu Quan had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 20th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. The supporters of El Expreso booed when CA Piratas was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 21 match minutes in a wonderful position. Pawel Witwicki didn't get a good kick on the ball. 24 minutes into the match, CA Piratas's goal looked a bit too open when Zhu Quan came free, but Elano Pimenta reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. An unexpectedly hard shot by Martyn West in the 28th minute of play forced El Expreso's goalkeeper Dennis Baldwin to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Martyn West kicked well hit freekick during the 30th minute of the match. 34 minutes into the match, CA Piratas's goalkeeper Elano Pimenta had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Zhu Quan. The supporters of CA Piratas booed when El Expreso was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 35 match minutes in a wonderful position. Edu de Sousa didn't get a good kick on the ball. The audience thought a goal was coming when Thanos Siokos got free with Elano Pimenta in the 42nd minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. 44 minutes into the match, El Expreso's goal looked a bit too open when Casimiro Quinito came free, but Dennis Baldwin reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After having played for 46 minutes, Vrasidas Arkadis managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. CA Piratas's supporters crossed their fingers, but Vrasidas Arkadis was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Through an outstanding action, after 48 minutes, Elano Pimenta successfully got his hands on the ball before it slid into the goal at the right post. 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.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Ivor Whitehead to make the kick off. After 51 played minutes CA Piratas got a freekick which was hit by Pawel Witwicki. After 52 played minutes, El Expreso's Dani Sánchez shot from a long distance, and at first it looked like the ball was going into the goal, but the goalkeeper Elano Pimenta 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 El Expreso reached it. 54 minutes into the match, Ivor Whitehead had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Elano Pimenta. CA Piratas's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Ivor Whitehead was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 1-0. After 58 played minutes El Expreso got a freekick which was hit by Chad Dickens. In the 61st match minute, El Expreso was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Zhu Quan to maneuver through the defense. Dennis Baldwin showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Casimiro Quinito in the 72nd minute of the match. In the 82ndth minute of the game Zhu Quan who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but CA Piratas's Elano Pimenta was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. Tristan Lodge fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 85th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Dennis Baldwin having to interfere. After a rather tough play, CA Piratas's Kubilay Hezarfen got a free kick in the 87th minute. 91 minutes into the match, Zhu Quan notched a goal, 4-0, to the right of CA Piratas's Elano Pimenta. Elano Pimenta was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. There was no doubt that El Expreso were the better team. El Expreso's players enjoyed the ovations of the crowd after the victory.