Ferroviário vs. Barueri

Ferroviário vs. Barueri
8 Out 2006
1600
Estádio Presidente Vargas

Ferroviário opened the fourth and final stage of Brasilian Serie C play against Barueri. Barueri had won their phase 3 group, with Ferroviário finishing second to Bahia in their phase 3 group. As the home team, Ferroviário had to be looking for a win and the associated three points in the standings to open their campaign to advance to Serie B. There are eight teams in phase four of Serie C, with the top four advancing after each team plays 14 games, home and away against each other remaining team.

Ferroviário started quickly tonight, gaining three corners in the first five minutes. Unable to convert these chances, the game remained scoreless. Ten minutes in, Ferroviário played a beautiful diagonal through ball between the last two Barueri defenders. One defender slipped, leaving the Ferroviário striker on a breakaway with the goalkeeper. The striker beat the keepr, but was unable to beat the crossbar, and the game remained scoreless. The sides traded chances for the remainder of the first half, but the score remained nil-nil at the half.

In the second half, Ferroviário continued to attack, slotting a few shots just wide of the post. Throughout the first half, multiple yellow cards were issued for tactical fouls and reckless play. Fifteen minutes into the second half, a Ferroviário midfielder committed a reckless tackle from the side for what seemd to be the fourth time. This lead to the player´s second yellow, and thus a sending off. With the score knotted at zero, and now a man down, Ferroviário could easily have went into a defensive strategy. Instead, Ferroviário continued to attack and scored after penetrating into the penalty area and ahving a shot deflect off a defender past a bewildered Barueri keeper. The score stood now at 1-0, favoring Ferroviário. The partisan crowd came back to life with chants in support of the home side.

With the man advantage, Barueri continued to attack, just missing wide of the post on multiple occasions. With fifteen minutes remaining, a Barueri midfielder was sent off after a vicious tackle from behind aimed at the back of a Ferroviário players knee, leaving the sides to play 10 vs. 10. Five minutes later, a second reckless challenge from a Barueri player playing with a caution lead to a second red card, this one for a second caution. Ferroviário played with a 10 vs. 9 advantage for the final ten minutes narrowly missing a second goal, and withstanding the final attacks of Barueri. There were no ties in Serie C action today, so Ferroviário is tied for first on points, and sits tied for second in Serie C on goal differential, after an excellent start to phase four action in Serie C.