Ceará vs. Maranguape

Campeonato Cearense
Estádio Presidente Vargas
13 Jan 2007
1630

Ceará opened defense of their Cearense championship in the first game of the 2007 Campeonato Cearense. A spirited crowd packed Estádio Presidente Vargas to cheer on the reigning champions as they faced Maranguape, a team based in the town Maranguape in the mountains south of Fortaleza.

Ceará had the better of play early in the match, but a misplay by the Ceará keeper left a rebound free 5 yards out. A Maranguape striker buried the close range shot to give the visitors a surprising 1-0 lead 10 minutes in. Ten minutes later, Ceará answered back after the Maranguape keeper yielded a long rebound off of a Ceará break. The right sided Ceará striker made no mistake in tying the score off the rebound. The teams traded chances for the remainder of the first half with Maranguape's speedy strikers gaining chances and Ceará's midfield possession controlling play. The teams reached the break tied at one.

The second half began with a few quick chances for Maranguape before Ceará again began to control play. Gaining a corner kick 20 minutes in, Ceará played a beautiful arching kick right to the head of a Ceará attacker at the far post who struck a header into the back of the net to give Ceará the 2-1 lead. Ceará would not relinquish this lead, and the remainder of the game was remarkable only for two yellow cards to Ceará for reckless tackles, and a pushing and shouting match between two Ceará defenders after a miscommunication lead to a Maranguape chance. Ceará did not look entirely in control in this first match of the 2007 season, but will look to continue to shake off the early season rust as they return to action on the road against Itapipoca Wednesday night.